What is child psychiatry?
Child psychiatry is an area of psychiatry specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of mental health disorders that affect children and adolescents, as well as their families.
Dr. Suzuki is a fellowship-trained child psychiatrist and a board-certified child, adolescent, and adult psychiatrist.
What conditions benefit from child psychiatry?
Mental health is an important part of your overall health and well-being, no matter your age. Many children and teens struggle with mental health issues that go unrecognized and untreated until they become adults.
At Orange County Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Dr. Suzuki provides child psychiatry services for many conditions that affect a young person’s mental well-being, including:
- Autism
- Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Tic disorder
The earlier your child starts treatment, the more effective it is.
How do I know if my child needs child psychiatry?
Many parents struggle with differentiating between normal childhood behaviors and signs and symptoms of a mental health problem. Whenever in doubt, you should talk to your pediatrician or schedule a consultation at Orange County Child and Adolescent Psychiatry for guidance.
Signs and symptoms that indicate your child or teen may benefit from a child psychiatry evaluation at Orange County Child and Adolescent Psychiatry include:
- Frequent tantrums
- Intense, ongoing irritability
- Openly talking about fears and worries
- Pain complaints that have no known medical cause
- Can’t sit still
- Sleeping too much or too little
- Frequent nightmares
- Difficult time socializing or making friends
- Struggling in school
- Engaging in risky behavior
- Low energy
- Lack of interest in things they used to enjoy
Mental health problems are treatable.
What can I expect from child psychiatry treatments?
Dr. Suzuki takes an integrative and personalized approach to care. Before making any recommendations, she requests your child undergo a comprehensive physical exam.
She conducts an age-appropriate psychiatric evaluation to assess your child’s cognitive and emotional well-being. Dr. Suzuki may perform additional tests based on her initial findings to formulate an accurate diagnosis to explain your child’s symptoms.
Dr. Suzuki develops a personalized treatment plan for your child based on their diagnosis and severity of symptoms. Treatment may include:
- Psychotherapy
- Family counseling
- Medication management
- Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)
Dr. Suzuki works one-on-one with you to develop a plan that’s best for you, your child, and your family.
To schedule a telehealth child psychiatry evaluation at Orange County Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, call the office or book online today.
