Child & Adolescent Services:
· Diagnostic Assessment
· Medication Management
· Brief Psychotherapy: Individual and Family
· Consultation to Parents, Schools, Social Services Agencies, Court Services and Attorneys
· Medication Management
· Brief Psychotherapy: Individual and Family
· Consultation to Parents, Schools, Social Services Agencies, Court Services and Attorneys
- Diagnostic Assessment
Dr. Iskandar does a thorough and careful assessment of new patients. Using a developmental biopsychosocial framework, he will meet with the patient and the family together and separately. The evaluation process frequently includes rating scales completed by parents, teachers and the child/adolescent. He will also review previous evaluations (e.g. psychoeducational, language or neurological reports), medical tests (e.g. blood tests, MRIs, sleep studies), and consult with other medical specialists (e.g. neurologist, cardiologist).
Dr. Iskandar typically first meets with the patient and parents togather a detailed history. He then meets with the child and the parents separately. The final step of the evaluation process involves meeting with the child and parents to provide feedback and recommendations.
This process strengthens the alliance with both the child/adolescent and his/her parents and minimizes the frequent patient’s concern that the psychiatrist is the parents’ agent to control him/her. Depending on the nature of the patient’s problems, the evaluation process will occur over one to three appointments.
Dr. Iskandar typically first meets with the patient and parents togather a detailed history. He then meets with the child and the parents separately. The final step of the evaluation process involves meeting with the child and parents to provide feedback and recommendations.
This process strengthens the alliance with both the child/adolescent and his/her parents and minimizes the frequent patient’s concern that the psychiatrist is the parents’ agent to control him/her. Depending on the nature of the patient’s problems, the evaluation process will occur over one to three appointments.
- Medication Management:
Psychopharmacology can play an important role in the treatment of child and adolescent psychiatric problems. Dr. Iskandar views medication management as a collaborative process with patient, parents, psychotherapist and primary care physician. Helping parents and their child understand what medication can and cannot do in treating psychiatric disorders is an important aspect of medication management. Potential risks, benefits and alternative treatment options are carefully considered and explained before initiating treatment. Systematic and careful follow up allow for the optimization of treatment. When needed, Dr. Iskandar uses genetic testing services that can be used to evaluate the way a patient metabolizes medications and his/her likelihood of responding to certain classes of medications.
- Brief Psychotherapy:
Individual Psychotherapy: Through individual psychotherapy, the child and adolescent can learn more appropriate ways of expressing their wants and frustrations. They also can learn new and better coping skills. For the younger child, a combination of play and talk therapy are necessary to address issues, while for the older child and adolescent, there will be an increasing reliance on verbal interactions.
Family Psychotherapy: Family conflict is frequently seen in the families of individuals with ADHD, anxiety, and other psychiatric problems. The causes of family conflict are typically the result of a complex interaction of child characteristics and parental issues. Psychotherapeutic interventions for the family conflict can include traditional family therapy involving the whole family, subgroups (e.g. siblings, mother-daughter) or can involve working primarily, if not exclusively, with the parent (i.e. parenting therapy). Behavioral techniques can be taught in parent training sessions. Behavioral management techniques can often be used successfully to address issues of noncompliance, defiance and aggressiveness.
Family Psychotherapy: Family conflict is frequently seen in the families of individuals with ADHD, anxiety, and other psychiatric problems. The causes of family conflict are typically the result of a complex interaction of child characteristics and parental issues. Psychotherapeutic interventions for the family conflict can include traditional family therapy involving the whole family, subgroups (e.g. siblings, mother-daughter) or can involve working primarily, if not exclusively, with the parent (i.e. parenting therapy). Behavioral techniques can be taught in parent training sessions. Behavioral management techniques can often be used successfully to address issues of noncompliance, defiance and aggressiveness.
- Consultation to Parents, Schools, Social Services Agencies, Court Services and Attorneys:
Please contact the office to schedule a consultation session.