Screening & Consultation
The first step in the hope-iatry™ process is screening, which starts by reviewing your child or teen’s developmental history and relevant medical records. The rest of the process is done in two appointments and can include behavioral evaluation, parent interviews, psychometric testing, lab work (written orders done at lab of your choice), and inputs from your child or teen’s school. Medication will typically not be prescribed at the first appointment. It is also important to note that for new patients to be accepted into the practice, they must have a primary care manager (PCM).
If your child or teen is coming into the practice with an existing psychiatric diagnosis, they will be evaluated for concurrence via medical history review and consultation with the provider who made the diagnosis.
1
Assessment & Diagnosis
An assessment is completed before any care plan can be recommended or started. The information gathered during screening and consultation is synthesized into an assessment that creates a holistic understanding of your child or teen as a person, the symptoms that brought them to hope-iatry™, and the impact of those symptoms on their development, education, and quality of life. At this point, an initial diagnosis, called a differential diagnosis, is made and will guide the care plan.
2Therapy Sessions
Once your child or teen has been accepted into the practice and has started screening and assessment, they will be scheduled for six sessions. Typically, patients are seen monthly in either 45 or 60-minute sessions depending on the complexity of their needs. The provider will make that determination. Parents are expected to be present in the clinic for all appointments. During those sessions, patients can expect to have their parent(s) present while vital signs are taken and for a brief discussion of physical concerns or changes in medical history.
3Education
In addition to therapy, you and your child or teen will receive education regarding symptoms experienced, the scientific understanding of what causes them, and techniques for dealing with them. The educational process includes discussions about influencing factors such as genetics, development, neurology, environment, and lifestyle. Depending on the differential diagnosis, parents may be required to attend Behavioral Parent Training (BPT) in which parents will learn evidence-based parenting skills to reinforce desired behaviors, support the parent-child relationship, and increase academic success. These sessions can be done in group or individual settings. Similarly, your child or teen may also be required to attend executive function coaching sessions. Executive functions are the cognitive and mental skills that enable us to plan, organize, and execute tasks. These skills include but are not limited to working memory, emotional control, self-restraint, ability to focus, goal setting & prioritization, organization, time management, flexibility of thought, and stress management.
4Medication Prescription & Management
Medication can be an important part of your child or teen’s care plan but will not be offered at the first screening appointment or as a stand-alone therapy. In fact, medication will only be prescribed if supported by the most recent medical evidence and done in conjunction with an active therapy schedule. Medication management will be conducted at every therapy session and prescriptions will typically be for 30 days with no refills. This approach is backed by the most recent medical evidence and allows for more frequent adjustments to better meet the needs of your child or teen. Stimulants will always be prescribed 30 days at a time. For non-stimulant medication, your child or adolescent may receive 90-day prescriptions once they have achieved a stable dosage. School-based interventions may also be required depending on symptoms and other factors.
We will notify your child or teen’s Primary Care Manager about all medication changes. Our goal is to make the medication management process as smooth as possible for you and your family and requires your active participation. For example, some medications occasionally experience supply shortages and might require you to call pharmacies to determine availability.
5