Thoughtful Psychiatric Medication Care for Children and Teens
Careful evaluation, family-centered treatment, and medication decisions made with thought rather than haste.
No parent goes looking for a psychiatric prescriber for their child on a whim.
By the time you find me, you have probably been worried for a while. Maybe the school keeps calling. Maybe the mornings have become a battle, or the nights, or both. Maybe you are watching anxiety swallow a kid who used to be fearless, or watching a teenager go quiet in a way that scares you. Maybe someone already said the word ADHD, and you do not know what to do with it. And underneath all of it, the question almost every parent carries in quietly: am I doing the right thing by even being here?
You are. Asking the question this carefully is exactly the right thing.
I will not rush your child onto medication
The fear I hear most often is that we will sit down for fifteen minutes, walk out with a diagnosis and a prescription, and that will be that. That is not how I work.
I start by understanding what is actually happening. Symptoms, yes, but also development, temperament, sleep, what is going on at school, what is going on at home, what has already been tried, and what your child is like on a good day. Medication is one tool. It is not the first thing I reach for, and it is never the only thing we talk about.
When medication does make sense, I tell you why, what it is meant to do, and what we will watch for together. And I lean toward the lowest effective dose, because a growing body and a growing brain deserve that restraint.
What brings families to me
ADHD and attention concerns, including the real question of whether a stimulant is the right choice or whether a non stimulant option fits your child better
Anxiety that has started running the show
Depression, withdrawal, or a child who simply does not seem like themselves
Big emotions that are hard to regulate
School refusal and school related struggles
A second look at a medication that is already in place but does not feel right
Some families come to me at the very beginning. Others arrive after treatment started somewhere else and never got clear. Either way, my job is the same: slow things down, look at the whole picture, and help you make a decision you can feel good about.
I treat the whole child, not a chart
A child is not a list of symptoms. Your child has a temperament, a family, a classroom, a sleep schedule, friendships, and a stage of development, and all of it shapes how they feel and how they respond to treatment. I keep all of it in view, and I make the decisions with you, not around you.
I work with parents and caregivers as partners, paying attention to:
day to day functioning, at home and at school
side effects, and how well something is actually tolerated
emotional and developmental growth
the people and supports already around your child
With older teens, part of the visit is often just the two of us, and I will always tell you what that looks like ahead of time. When it helps, and when you want it, I work alongside your child's therapist, pediatrician, and school. I am adding careful medication management to the team you already trust. I am not trying to take it over.
Frequently Asked Questions
At what age do you see children? I see children and teens beginning at age 6, through adolescence.
Do you prescribe non stimulant options for ADHD? Yes. I tailor treatment to each child, including stimulant and non stimulant options, and I favor the lowest effective dose.
Do you provide therapy for my child? My practice focuses on psychiatric medication evaluation and management, but my sessions are not just a prescription pad. The way I prescribe well is by actually talking with you and your child, so I bring real therapeutic tools into our work: motivational interviewing, solution focused techniques, and guided mindfulness and meditation when they fit. That is different from ongoing psychotherapy, the weekly, in depth work that deserves its own dedicated hour. I work closely with therapists and welcome referrals while therapy continues.
Can we meet virtually? Yes. I offer telehealth across New Jersey, New York, and Maryland, and in person visits in Caldwell and Saddle River, New Jersey.
Will you talk with my child's school or therapist? With your permission, yes. Coordinated care usually leads to better decisions.
