WHO WE TREAT

Child & Adolescent Early treatment Child Anxiety Disorder Treatment and intervention can improve a child’s long-term mental health prospects. Anxiety and Mood Disorders are Increasingly Common in Children For our children to reach their fullest potential, we know that emotional health is as important as physical health. Psychiatric disorders such as anxiety disorders, depressive disorders, ADHD, and trauma are some of many mental health problems that impact emotional development in youth. Additionally, environmental stressors such as social difficulties, donnish problems, and ongoing family conflict can also have a significant impact. At The Empower Mind, we work with children, adolescents, and their family members to combat common mental health problems, such as childhood depression, social anxiety, phobias, separation anxiety, and adjustment problems caused by young children and adolescents struggling in school, as well as other typical fears and worries. Our specialized child psychologists, therapists, and psychiatrists offer age-appropriate treatment for children as young as 2 years old, teaching behavioral strategies and coping skills that reduce the symptoms of anxiety, depression, behavioral problems, and other mental health disorders. Children and adolescents are dealing with more anxiety and mental health problems than ever before; family, school, and social pressures are common. While nervousness, fears, worry, and sadness are normal experiences for everyone, sometimes these experiences can be overwhelming and significantly impact a young person’s life. Up to 12% of children are affected by anxiety disorders, with symptoms often appearing in children as young as preschool age. When to Seek Treatment Seeking a consultation with a health professional, such as a child therapist, pediatric psychiatrist, or pediatrician can be very helpful when dealing with mental health issues. These professionals can assess your child and direct you toward the appropriate resources, which could include individual therapy, family therapy, psychiatric services (including medication consultation), or psychological and neuropsychological assessment. By beginning treatment when your child’s symptoms first appear, you improve their potential for a healthy life and empower your child to navigate life more easily. When to Seek Treatment – Signs and Symptoms: My child avoids taking risks that other kids his age engage in. My child won’t go to birthday parties and avoids social situations. She won’t speak to anyone outside the family. My son’s anxiety seems to last longer than his friends. He is always worried and asking us for reassurance. My middle school age daughter won’t sleep over at friend’s houses. My child refuses to go to school for days at a time. My teenage son is always complaining about headaches and stomachaches and our doctor tells us he is anxious. My child is much more active than his friends and he can’t pay attention in school. My child is having difficulty sleeping. His normal sleep patterns have been totally disrupted. My child has excessive fears and phobias of specific things like dogs, thunderstorms, insects, or getting sick. My child’s behavior has changed; she seems less interested in activities she used to be into or less engaged with family and peers than before. We Can Help The Empower Mind’s Child and Adolescent program includes highly trained child psychiatrists, psychologists, counselors, and therapists who provide evidence-based assessment and treatment. A typical assessment includes a focus on your child’s strengths and weaknesses to understand your child in the context of their environment, both at school and at home. Our treatment providers value the importance of ongoing clinical consultation with important figures in your child’s life. We regularly work with schools, pediatricians, and others to inform the most comprehensive and effective treatment. Our team of psychologists and therapists has advanced training in a range of therapies, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and family therapy. In addition, our child and adolescent psychiatrists have specialized training in pediatric mental health, and can prescribe medication when necessary that is appropriate for your child’s condition. Psychological and neuropsychological testing are also helpful tools when trying to understand the source of a young person’s struggles. Often these kinds of assessments are recommended by school and medical professionals to gain a more comprehensive understanding of a child or teen’s cognitive and academic strengths and weaknesses. An assessment of social and emotional functioning can also provide a more detailed understanding of a young person’s personality and temperament. All these assessments are offered at The Empower Mind. Parent and Family Support A positive treatment outcome is impacted by good family support. Parents are always included in our initial consultations and they are an integral part of a child or teen’s treatment. We recognize how important it is to teach parents and often the entire family the best ways to respond to your child or teen during their times of need. Parent support is often recommended for school-age children. Your child’s clinician can teach tools and strategies to support you in responding most effectively when your child becomes anxious or is acting out. Parents can come for their own treatment or as an adjunct to their child’s treatment.

Support for Parents We provide valuable services for parents, whether your child is in treatment already or you need guidance for parenting concerns. Parenting Consultations Parent consultations can teach you how to handle challenging situations more effectively; decreasing problematic behaviors in your child and increasing your ability to respond calmly and appropriately.  Our clinicians serve as educational and supportive resources for you, teaching you new ways to communicate that positively impact your family relationships. We address your own anxieties, frustrations, and coping styles, and you’ll gain a greater understanding of your child so you’re able to more skillfully respond to their needs. Parenting sessions are not to determine diagnoses for children/parents or to provide specific treatment, but rather to equip you with parenting strategies customized to support your unique child. Parenting consultations are offered to parents of children and teens who are already in therapy with us, or to parents whose children are not or refuse to be in therapy. There is strong research to support that working with parents, even without the child, can positively impact child functioning. Consultations can address a wide range of issues, including: Temperament Child development phases Communication strategies Family dynamics Relationships with siblings and peers Establishing routines Discipline and boundaries Increasing positive attention Setting expectations Behavioral training Strengthening the parent-child relationship Parenting a Child Who Struggles is Painful It is hard to watch your child struggle, and sometimes it is hard to know how best to help. Parent coaching and support is a vital part of treatment for all children. When your child is seeing one of our therapists or child psychiatrists, we keep you informed of our treatment plans and involve you in decisions relating to medication. The younger a child is, the more likely it will be that effective therapy will include parental participation. Parents are an Integral Part of Treatment at The Empower Mind We strongly value parental input, and collaborate with parents to ensure that your child is making progress toward their goals. Your child’s clinician will teach you tools and strategies that are consistent with the therapies we are using to help your child. In addition, you’ll be provided with recommendations on how best to respond to your child and methods to minimize your own stress. For example, with an anxious child, a concerned parent’s first reaction to reassure the child can often inadvertently make that anxiety worse. We’ll provide you with evidence-based strategies and suggestions for more effective ways to respond. Another child issue in which parent intervention is often the first line is ADHD, especially for young children. We often see parents independently of young children with ADHD, to reduce the impact of a child’s ADHD on the family’s life. At times, parents may require therapy sessions without the child present, to request guidance and vent frustrations. Parents can meet for a one-time consultation, a few sessions, or on a weekly basis. The Empower Mind also frequently offers parenting webinars and programs where you can learn from expert therapists on a variety of topics. Specialized Parent Training: Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE) We are now offering a new, parent-based treatment to address child and adolescent anxiety called SPACE. This novel approach was developed at the Yale Child Study Center by Dr. Eli Lebowitz, and is a systematic program that teaches parents how to supportively and appropriately respond to their child’s anxiety through changes in their own behaviors. By reducing an ‘accommodating’ approach to a child’s anxiety, parents are able to engage in a manner that ultimately enhances the child’s ability to cope with anxious thoughts and feelings. Parents are taught to calmly accept a child’s distress, while avoiding reactions that exacerbate symptoms, resulting in significant improvements to their anxiety.

Teens & Young Adults Our expert clinicians offer customized treatment for every stage of life. The Empower Mind offers therapy for everyone, with specialists who have expertise in age groups ranging from young children to older adults. Treatment decisions are based on the patient’s age and stage of life, and clinicians choose from a variety of evidence-based therapeutic techniques to help overcome anxiety, depression, and other mental health conditions. We offer individual therapy, psychiatric services, group therapy, and testing and assessments for adults and children. Our specialists are able to tailor a successful treatment plan that will help you move forward to a healthier, more satisfying life. Support for Children and Parents Widely known for our strength in treating children and adolescents, we work closely with the entire family to ensure that children have the tools and proper medication (when necessary) to minimize their symptoms. Our specialized child therapists and psychiatrists offer age appropriate treatment for children as young as 2 years old, as well as testing and assessment services that can aid in making school-based decisions. Parent consultations and family therapy are offered to supplement individual therapy for children. Therapy for Teens and Young Adults Many of our providers work with teens and young adults during challenging times of transition, teaching behavioral strategies and coping skills that enhance resilience and self-esteem. The appropriate therapy and/or medication can help young people to  thrive and empower them with skills to better manage daily life and plan for the future. Solutions for Adults who are Struggling We often see adults who have never been in treatment before, and together we develop a plan that addresses your concerns,  whether they relate to a recent life cycle transition, increased anxiety, or depression. We also treat many individuals who have been in therapy before, but are looking for more effective therapeutic treatment that may include medication.  Our experts will customize a treatment plan for you whether you need a short-term course of cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), medication for a mood disorder, or intensive treatment for a disorder that’s impacted your ability to live your best life.