CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENT PSYCHIATRY

The initial consultation with a specialist in child and adolescent psychiatry is the first step towards diagnosing and evaluating potential mental disorders. The child/adolescent must be accompanied by a legal guardian. The initial examination usually includes a series of steps and activities:

1. Information gathering: Before meeting with the psychiatrist, you may need to fill out forms or questionnaires that will contain information about your child or adolescent, including medical history, family history, current symptoms, and other relevant information.
2. Interview with the Patient: During the initial meeting, the specialist will conduct an interview with the child or adolescent to better understand their emotional and mental needs. This is an opportunity for the patient to express their feelings, concerns, and experiences.
3. Discussion with Parents or Guardians: The specialist will also talk to the parents or guardians to gain a better insight into the child’s or adolescent’s developmental history and family context. Family history and dynamics often play a crucial role in the mental health of a child or adolescent.
4. Symptom Assessment and Diagnosis: Based on the gathered information, the specialist will attempt to make a diagnosis or understand the nature of the problems the patient is facing. This may include diagnosing mental disorders such as depression, anxiety, eating disorders, etc.
5. Treatment Planning: After making a diagnosis, the specialist will discuss possible treatments with you and your child or adolescent. This may include psychotherapy, pharmacotherapy, or a combination of both, depending on the patient’s needs.
6. Setting Goals: The specialist will help set goals for therapy and treatment. These goals will be aimed at improving the patient’s mental health and enabling them to function better in everyday life.
7. Education and Support: The specialist will provide education about mental health and therapy and offer support and guidance to help you better understand and support your child or adolescent.
8. Plan for Monitoring and Follow-up Appointments: The specialist will arrange a plan for further follow-up examinations and psychotherapy sessions to monitor your child’s or adolescent’s progress.

It is important to note that each initial examination can vary in time frame depending on the individual needs of the patient and the specifics of the service provider. It is crucial to openly communicate with the specialist, ask questions, and express your concerns so that you can together develop the best plan for treatment and support for your child or adolescent.

Follow-up Examination in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

• A follow-up examination is a specialist examination after the initial examination of the child/adolescent to evaluate and monitor their health condition after the start of treatment and/or procedures indicated at the first examination.

Psychotherapy for Children and Adolescents

• Psychotherapy is always the first choice in treating many mental disorders in children and adolescents. Our experts are recognized in this field and are educated in various types of psychotherapies.

Group Psychotherapy for Adolescents

• Group psychotherapy for adolescents is a therapeutic approach used to treat emotional and psychological problems in youth. This form of therapy involves working with a group of adolescents facing similar challenges and problems, led by an experienced therapist.

Consultations/Counselling for Parents

• The role of parents during the treatment process is often of utmost importance; therefore, maintaining a good relationship with parents is essential. In treating a child/adolescent, we often “guide” parents through the process of treating their child/adolescent with the goal of informing, advising, and educating them.

Psychological assessment

Psychological assessment is a process that uses a set of tests to collect data to assess the examinee’s intellectual abilities, personality, emotional state, cognitive functions, psychopathology. Psychological tests are designed and developed by experts in psychology and psychometrics and are conducted by qualified psychologists or testing experts to ensure the reliability and validity of the results. Psychological assessment consists of interviews, tests with standardized psychological instruments, written reports, and opinions.

ADULT PSYCHIATRY

Psychiatric Evaluation

A psychiatrist is a medical doctor specializing in mental health, dealing with the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of mental disorders. When you visit a psychiatrist, they will usually start with a conversation to understand your symptoms, medical history, and any other relevant information.

Based on your information, the psychiatrist will try to make a diagnosis or at least assess the type and severity of the problems you are facing.

Depending on the diagnosis or needs, the psychiatrist may suggest different forms of treatment; psychotherapy, medication, or a combination of both. In some cases, they may recommend further tests (psychological evaluation) to better understand your condition.

The psychiatrist will monitor your condition over time, adjusting the therapy or treatment according to your response and any changes in your condition. It is important to be honest and open during conversations so that the psychiatrist can provide the best possible support and treatment.

Individual Psychotherapy

Individual psychotherapy is a form of therapy where one-on-one sessions are held between the therapist and the patient to understand, explore, and work on various emotional, mental, or behavioural difficulties. Depending on the therapist, approaches, and patient needs, different types of psychotherapies can be used, such as cognitive-behavioural therapy, psychoanalytic psychotherapy, problem-solving therapy, group psychotherapy, etc.

The goal of individual psychotherapy is to provide a safe space where the patient can openly discuss their feelings, experiences, and problems. Through the therapy process, the patient can better understand themselves, their patterns of thinking and behaviour, and learn new techniques or strategies for managing stress, coping with challenges, or solving problems.

The therapist will use various techniques and tools tailored to the patient’s needs to support the process of self-help and change. Depending on the situation, the therapy may be short-term (focused on resolving a specific issue) or long-term (working on deeper issues and personality changes).

Regular sessions with the therapist usually take place weekly or according to the patient’s agreement and progress.