Pediatric Medical Psychology provides a wide range of assessment and treatment services for children with learning, behavior, psychosocial and medical problems. There are three primary areas where we provide service to pediatric patients.
PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT SERVICES
Many children are experiencing learning, behavioral or emotional problems that are difficult to understand and treat. The Pediatric Medical Psychology program offers assessment services to help parents, teachers and mental health providers clarify the factors that contribute to the educational and psychological problems of young people. The assessment approach uses state-of-the-art assessment instruments to provide an objective appraisal of a child’s cognitive, neuropsychological, academic, personality and psychiatric characteristics. The assessments will help in the diagnosis of learning disabilities, psychiatric disorders, developmental disabilities and neurological problems; however, the assessment process will also lead to recommendations that include the most appropriate evidence-based treatments.
COGNITVE-BEHAVIORAL TREATMENT SERVICES
Over the last decade the research base for the psychological treatment of children and adolescents suffering from emotional and behavioral problems has greatly expanded. Our staff utilizes the treatment approaches with the strongest research support; accordingly, the treatment services offered by the Pediatric Medical Psychology program include a variety of cognitive and behavioral interventions. We treat children and adolescents that display a range of psychiatric disorders, including: Mood, Anxiety, Obsessive-Compulsive, Attention (i.e., ADHD), and Conduct/Oppositional disorders.
SERVICES FOR THE MEDICALLY ILL
Children that are medically ill may have behavioral or emotional issues that are associated with their medical problems. In many cases there are behavioral, psychological, social and environmental considerations that affect the ability of children to cooperate with the procedures that are important in effectively managing their medicalcare. Therefore, our psychology staff will frequently use various behavioral techniques to enhance the effectiveness of medical treatment. In the process, the psychologist will work with the patient, family members and medical staff to deal with a variety of medically related issues. In addition to treating behavioral and emotional issues that complicate medical treatment, psychologists can help with pain management, compliance with medical procedures, stress reduction and family interactions that influence patient care.
