PEDIATRIC PRIMARY CARE PSYCHOLOGY

A Happier, Healthier You

A unique part of my practice is that I offer Pediatric Primary Care Psychology (PPCP) services. PPCP is slightly different from the traditional model of mental health care for children. Because I am integrated inside a pediatric medical practice (Chattanooga Pediatrics), and because I trained through a fellowship in Community Health and Integrated Primary Care, I routinely offer PPCP in my practice. PPCP utilizes shorter-term treatment models and consultation-based services right inside a medical visit. Studies show that the majority of parents seek mental health advice from their primary care doctors first, and a surprising percentage of primary care visits involve some sort of mental or behavioral health component. By integrating directly into Chattanooga Peds, I am able to touch base briefly with patients during their medical visits to assist with a variety of mental and behavioral healthcare needs.

Primary care behavioral health consultations are usually conducted in 15-30 minute increments, though some may last longer, depending on needs. My goal with these consultations is to give families necessary tools to intervene at home and, when necessary, to guide families toward higher level care (more traditional therapy services) as needed.

Currently, these services are offered at no extra out-of-pocket charge for Chattanooga Peds patients. You simply pay your regular co-pay for the doctor's visit. We may bill insurance to try to cover some of my time, but you do not get charged extra if insurance doesn't pay for the consultation.

Child pretending to play doctor with teddy bear

How does Primary Care Psychology Differ from Traditional Care

Perhaps the most important difference between Primary Care Psychology and other models of mental health is that I can help with a lot more than what most people realize. As you can see in the next section below, I can treat a wide variety of conditions, including the “traditional” stuff as well as the psychosocial components of other medical conditions. I think it is important to help you and your children with every aspect of development, and part of my role is to give you and your child the resources you need to thrive throughout life.

Another difference between Primary Care and other treatment models is in the duration of treatment. In primary care, I can play the “long game,” while still using short-term, targeted treatment methods. One advantage of working with pediatricians is that I can follow your child for as long as they are a patient in our practice—from birth until adulthood. This is the “long game!” I know we’ve got time and I can be here to throughout all the different parts of growing up to provide counsel or just answer questions. At the same time, behavioral health treatments in primary care settings are targeted, working toward specific treatment goals that we both agree on. In other words, as issues arise that need treatment, I work to give you that treatment as efficiently as possible, usually between 3-12 sessions. This approach combines the benefits of long-term counseling with short-term clinical intervention.

What conditions do Primary Care Psychologists treat?

Anxiety

Depression

ADHD

OCD

Trauma

Eating Disorders

Pain Management

Chronic Illness

Enuresis

EEncopresis

Diabetes

Obesity/Overweight

Feeding Problems

Vomiting

Asthma

Cancer

Arthritis

Cystic Fibrosis

Sickle Cell Disease

Traumatic Brain Injury

Spina Bifida

Epilepsy

Cardiovascular Disease

GI Disorders

Sleep

Autism

Pill swallowing

Medical nonadherence

Infant mental health

Adoption

and more...