Some of the most common mental and behavioral health conditions we treat at Robertson Pediatrics include:

ADHD, or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, is a condition characterized by excessive energy, difficulty focusing, and challenges in controlling impulsive behaviors.

Anxiety causes feelings of uneasiness, worry, or fear to occur constantly without an apparent reason. This condition causes the body to feel enormous distress even when not in danger. 

When anxiety progresses into more severe episodes, panic attacks could appear. They can begin without warning at any time or place, causing chills, nausea, or numbness.

Depression is commonly understood as a state of deep sadness and emptiness. Although this may be one of its signs, it is often a combination of multiple distressing feelings at once.

Some common signs of depression in childhood and adolescence include:

• Irregular sleeping patterns
• Changes in appetite
• A sudden decrease of interest in hobbies
• Broken relationships with family and friends
• Acting out behaviors
• Episodes of irritability and anger
• Anxiety
• Fatigue
• Worsening academic performance
• Low self-esteem
• Loss of interest in activities they once enjoyed
• Frequent mood swings 
• Physical symptoms like headaches, gastrointestinal issues, and loss of appetite

Some warning signs that can help identify behavioral issues in children and teenagers include criminal actions like theft, vandalism, skipping school, and disobedience toward authority figures in the family or at school.

Eating disorders are complex mental health conditions characterized by abnormal eating behaviors, distorted thoughts about food, and significant distress or impairment in daily functioning. 

Some common eating disorders in childhood include:

• Anorexia Nervosa
• Bulimia Nervosa
• Binge Eating Disorder
• Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID)

A learning disorder occurs when the brain processes and works with information in a different way, leading to a gap between expected skills and actual performance. These disorders can affect multiple academic and social aspects, including reading, writing, math, speech, or socializing skills.

As you arrive at our clinic, our friendly medical providers will greet you and assist with  the following steps:

To better understand what could be triggering your child’s change in behavior and symptoms, our providers will conduct a review of their vaccination schedule, previous medication, lifestyle habits, and medical history. A physical exam that examines their eyes, ears, breathing, reflexes, and heartbeat may also be performed.

In order to diagnose a mental health condition or learning disorder, your doctor will:

• Closely examine your child’s health. 
• Review their family medical history. 
• Ask for support from teachers or caregivers
• Conduct a series of specialized tests to identify any potential signs

Once the results are back, your provider will offer a precise diagnosis and discuss the treatment options that best suit your child’s needs. This may include medication management, psychotherapy, and constant parenting support.

At Robertson Pediatrics, we believe in fighting mental health and behavioral conditions through an integrated approach. Our treatment for conditions focuses on using medication management, psychotherapy, and parental support as tools that aim for long-lasting recovery.

Medication management is a crucial treatment method to deal with the symptoms of anxiety, depression, behavioral issues, and learning disorders. It provides rapid relief from physical symptoms like tension, tachycardia, nausea, fatigue, and insomnia. 

Some of the most common medications used to manage the symptoms of anxiety and panic attacks include: 

• Antidepressants
• Anti-anxiety medications
• Beta-blockers

One of the most effective approaches to psychotherapy is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). It helps your child understand their emotions and understand why the symptoms are triggered. 

Therapy can also help develop strategies to reduce impulsive behavior, manage emotions, enhance organizational skills, and improve time management abilities. 

Techniques used during CBT can include the following:

• Cognitive restructuring or reframing identifies and alters stress-inducing thoughts.
• Exposure therapy helps you face and control your fears instead of avoiding them. It is often used in treating phobias and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
• Goal-setting and problem-solving help you define clear goals and develop strategies to achieve them.