Holistic Psychologist Supports Pediatricians Stepping Up

Mental Health Screening

MIDDLETOWN — A Connecticut holistic authority on children’s mental health issues and treatment utilizing neurofeedback is applauding a nationwide initiative among pediatricians to look more closely during routine exams for signs of possible mental health issues in their patients.

The nation’s largest pediatric group recently released new guidelines for mental health screenings in children. A task force on mental health convened by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends pediatricians probe further during routine physical exams about potential mental health problems.

This call for increased screening in primary-care settings is largely due to the explosive growth in the diagnosis of disorders such as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism and anxiety.

“I applaud this move by the pediatricians to focus more energy on the social and the emotional lives of their child patients,” said Dr Robert Reynolds, a Middletown-based clinical psychologist who specializes in the treatment of children. “Mental health problems in children are becoming increasingly common in this country and pediatricians are often the first health care professional to see them. That’s why it is so important that pediatricians take the time to screen for such problems.”

Dr Reynolds said in a release that it is not uncommon for children to present with physical symptoms that may be masking an underlying psychological condition.

“Research has proven that the sooner disorders such as autism and ADHD receive proper treatment, the better the outcome for the patient,” said Dr. Reynolds. “Early signs of autism can be present in a child as young as 18 months.”

The AAP recommendations also encourage pediatricians to develop relationships with mental health professionals in their community in order to refer their patients who may need a more in-depth evaluation or treatment. It is estimated that more than 20 percent of children and adolescents have a diagnosable mental illness. But only one-fifth of that group ever receives treatment for their condition in part because they are not being identified.

Besides pediatricians taking a more vigilant approach spotting mental health problems, Dr Reynolds encourages parents to play a proactive role as well.

“Doctors often rely on patients, or in this case the parents of patients, to give a thorough explanation of any potential problems that may be present,” he said. “Therefore, it is critical that parents bring any issues of concern to the attention of their child’s doctor.”

Dr Reynolds supports therapeutic approaches to treatment that do not rely on pharmaceutical intervention.

“It’s not that I am against the use of medications for children who have attentional or behavioral problems; it’s just that medications are often all that is offered,” he stated. “Increasingly, parents are reluctant to agree to have their children medicated so other treatment options need to be made available. Many children can do quite well without taking medications; they just need to be given a chance. Even the AAP has endorsed the use of nonmedication interventions first before resorting to medications.”

Dr Reynolds has found great success in treating children with attentional, behavioral, or social problems employing a combination of family counseling, school intervention, and neurofeedback training.  His holistic approach is designed to repair family relationships, improve school performance, and increase children’s self-control by retraining their brains through neurofeedback therapy.

The neurofeedback process begins by taking pictures of a child’s brainwave activity, thus identifying the proper place on the cortex, or surface of the brain, to target the neurofeedback.

“Neurofeedback therapy is a powerful method for teaching a child how to regulate their own brains through the use of gamelike displays on a computer monitor,” said Dr Reynolds. “And, unlike the improvements from medication, once a child learns the process, they never lose it. It’s ‘Skills before Pills’ we like to say.”