CHC’s Vivien Keil, Ph.D., and Ann Smith, Executive Director of Gifted Support Center, define what it means to be twice exceptional — that is, both gifted and challenged by a learning difference.
The presenters also discuss the mental health needs of the twice exceptional child, support strategies and treatment options. Read more ›
¿Cuáles son los desafíos, características y comportamientos típicos de un adolescente?
En esta presentación, Iria Sebastiao de CHC discute la fase adolescente y le ofrece sugerencias prácticas para manejar los retos. Read more ›
Students who are twice exceptional have unique challenges. They often experience anxiety as a result of some of those challenges. Read more ›
Your Psychiatrist Is Your Partner in This ProcessAs a psychiatrist practicing for almost a decade, I would encourage you to view your psychiatrist as your partner in this process. An initial consultation can fulfill many other useful functions besides the possible generation of a prescription. It provides an understanding of what’s going on with your child within a larger context, whether your child has a clear diagnosis or not.
The psychiatry team’s medical training leads to a deep understanding of the mind-body connection and the interactions between mental and physical health. I have been able to help families to develop a comprehensive treatment plan and a personalized road map to determine recommended benchmarks for various interventions, including but not limited to medication. It is very helpful to establish a relationship with families well before symptoms escalate, in hopes of averting a crisis and getting the child back on the right road of growth and self-discovery.
An initial consultation, while a significant investment of time and resources, can help right the developmental course and prevent a lot of twists and turns in your child’s mental health journey.
Developing a decision tree to determine whether or not to medicate your child is complicated, and is not a decision I take lightly in my role as a physician. That being said, medications are always one of the options when there is functional impairment: when social/family relationships are at stake; academic functioning or academic placement is at risk; or the internal experience of a child is adversely impacting their ability to grow and develop in an age- or ability- appropriate manner.
2. Does an appointment with a psychiatrist always result in a prescription?
Consulting with a psychiatrist does not mean that your child will end up on a medication. Consider it a conversation about your child that can empower you with choices.
3. Will medication affect my child’s brain development?
It has always to be weighed against the current risk/ distress that the child and family are under.
4. Could my child become “addicted” to the medication?
The term “addicted” means using something to get a high from it. Most (not all) psychiatric medications do not produce a high and are therefore not addictive.
Consulting with a psychiatrist for your child or teen is an opportunity to detect stressors or illnesses early, potentially limiting the pain and impact of the illness for the entire family. As psychiatrists, we are here to support and partner with you throughout your child’s journey towards mental wellness. You are not alone. Contact us today to speak with a Care Coordinator.
Vidya Krishnan, MD, CHC’s Chief Psychiatrist and Medical Director, works with kids from a variety of backgrounds across the age and developmental spectrum, starting from grade school through young adulthood. She treats a wide range of mental health conditions that cause functional impairment and believes in a comprehensive approach to the diagnosis and treatment of mental health issues.
What is mindfulness? How does yoga relate to mindfulness? Learn more about the positive impact of mindfulness and yoga on reducing anxiety, depression, ADHD symptoms and managing stress. Read more ›
Is there a student in your class that seems to constantly disrupt the class or appears highly unmotivated to learn? Are there student behaviors in your classroom that you would like to change? Read more ›
In this panel discussion moderated by CHC’s Senior Engagement Manager for Community Connections, Christine Wang, teens share their thoughts and perspectives about anxiety and mental health. The discussion is followed by a Q & A session with the teen panelists. Read more ›
In this community education session for educators, Lisa Parnello discusses how to identify a student with word attack struggles and offers helpful strategies that can make them a more successful reader. This class includes easy-to-implement methods to help students with and without learning differences to become better readers. Read more ›
Esta presentación le ayuda a identificar los obstáculos que pueden estar evitando que su hijo/hija sea más independiente. Aprende estrategias prácticas para ayudar a su hijo/hija a sentirse más seguro/a y actuar de manera más independiente. Read more ›
We are a society obsessed with running, and by running I don’t mean the physical activity of running, I mean running from one thing to the next, filling up our lives with countless activities, events, lists, other people, technology, and substances, so that we are rarely ever still and alone with ourselves. Read more ›
