Children & Adolescents

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Nearly 1 in 5 children have a diagnosable mental illness,
but help is available.

Children with mental illness typically go untreated. We live in a stressful time, and children are more susceptible to pressure from their environment. It can impact their outlook, their personality and their development. In fact, less than 35% of the 17 million children who need help actually get professional treatment.

  • 70% of adolescents in the juvenile justice system have a diagnosable mental illness
  • 80% of children with anxiety don’t get treated
  • 60% of youth with a form of diagnosable depression don’t get treated

Reference: first annual Children’s Mental Health Report, released by Child Mind Institute in New York City.

 

Parents who seek treatment for their children often cite symptoms such as: impulsiveness, hyperactivity, sadness, academic trouble, social troubles, defiance, and breaking rules.

Common Conditions We Treat

Don’t wait before speaking to a professional. Mental health is just as important as a child’s physical health. Children who experience anxiety have an increased risk of developing depression as a teenager, and this can result in a higher risk of developing long-term depression as an adult. Most alarmingly, suicide rates are especially high for adolescents (14-24), totaling nearly 5,000 per year.

What to Expect

If you’re concerned about your child’s mental health, have a talk with your pediatrician. If necessary, please give us a call. We can provide most adolescent psychotherapy treatments in-house. We begin with a mental health screening, then provide education and awareness of the issues affecting the child. Our on-staff professionals assist with medication management and provide a variety of treatment modalities to get kids back on track to a normal and happy childhood.

Services

Your First Visit

Starting the process at PTI may require a referral from your insurance company or provider. We will have you fill out a brief informational packet highlighting the major concerns you have about the conditions affecting your child. Finally, we will verify your insurance and schedule your first visit.
Please bring all medications the child is taking and any relevant paperwork that your mental health professional may need to see.  This gives us a better understanding of each child’s needs. Above all else, bring an open mind and the expectation that our entire organization is working with you around your concern.

Educators

Educators are sometimes the first people to notice a change in behavior or negative patterns in children and adolescents.  Parents/guardians that see their children everyday may overlook or minimize some kind of negative change in behavior/emotion/cognitions due to the hustle and bustle of daily life. Educators play an important role in our children’s lives. Some students even choose to go to their teachers with their issues before their parents such as bullying, peer pressure, self-esteem, even suicidal thoughts at times.

Learning disorders can present with symptoms similar to depression, anxiety, and/or ADHD. Educators can increase learning and develop other success in and out of the classroom if schools learn to recognize the problems.

Educators need to look for any change in behavior or thoughts as well as motivation and academic performance. Also look for signs of isolation such as being alone, flat affect, low energy or motivation and little social interaction.

 

“Rise above the storm and you will find the sunshine.”

~ Mario Fernandez

Make An
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