Anxiety in children

As a parent, you know that fears and worries, especially among young children and teenagers, are an expected part of going through life. However, it is disheartening to see such feelings and thoughts worsen to the point where they interfere with your child’s schooling and other social activities. When anxiety is beyond what is considered typical, even the best advice and coaching methods in a parents’ arsenal may not be enough, no matter how well intentioned and sound the efforts are. 

 

During Dr. Nguyen’s time as both a psychiatry fellow and an attending at UCLA, she has worked with numerous families struggling with managing anxiety-related difficulties in children and adolescents. In particular, she trained at the UCLA Child OCD, Anxiety & Tic Disorders Clinic, which provides state-of-the-art care for children and adolescents (though there can be a lengthy waitlist). 

 

It’s natural to have concerns and questions. Will the condition go away on its own? What are the most effective ways to help children with anxiety? Will my child need medications? What kinds of treatment programs exist or would be appropriate for my child? Ultimately, to get good answers to these questions, Dr. Nguyen advises that patients first receive an accurate diagnosis to know what exactly is going on, as there could be other underlying medical conditions contributing to anxious feelings in children and adolescents. 

 

In Dr. Nguyen’s virtual clinic, she uses a diagnostic and evaluation process that has been refined based on her time helping patients with anxiety-related difficulties at UCLA. Beginning first with a no-cost 15-minute get-to-know-you phone call, both you and Dr. Nguyen will have a chance to chat, ask questions, and learn about the kind of support you are looking for. Based on this chat, Dr. Nguyen may refer you to another colleague or let you know that you are a good fit for her practice. 

 

The next step, if you proceed, is the intake appointment, which consists of one to two 1-hr appointments. When working with children, Dr. Nguyen takes a thorough history, which will usually takes up to two appointments. For younger children (elementary school-aged children), Dr. Nguyen will meet with both parents and child in the same session. For adolescents (between age 12-19), Dr. Nguyen will meet separately first with the patient and then another session with the family and patient together. 

 

During the intake, Dr. Nguyen will conduct a comprehensive evaluation, which involves discussing the goals for care, gathering a comprehensive history, and understanding your child’s symptoms. She will also discuss treatment options and approaches that align with your preferences (such as conservative medication regimen, particular therapy modalities, etc). 

 

After going over your diagnosis and treatment options with Dr. Nguyen, you are free to choose among several options:

• Continue care with Dr. Nguyen

• If you already have another provider, you can return to your existing care team with the diagnosis and treatment recommendations

• Discuss referral options depending on your needs and preferences

 

At this time, you may have other questions not covered in this article. For example, what will sessions after the intake look like? How soon can you expect to see an improvement?

 

The best way to get these and other questions answered is to have a quick chat with Dr. Nguyen. We invite you to book a no-cost, no-obligation 15-minute call with her as she reserves a limited number of spots each week for these calls. She is happy to answer any questions and provide further detail where helpful. When you are ready to take the next step, our clinic will be ready to assist you and your family.