TO OUR FRIENDS IN THE PEDIATRIC COMMUNITY: The clinical and administrative staff of SmartCare BHCS’ not-for-profit parent organization, Vista Hill, are happy and honored to have been chosen to further promote integrated system of care services with a County-funded grant to run the Center for Youth & Child Psychiatry (CCYP) in 2023. CCYP provides services […]
Category Archives: Uncategorized
Social Media Safety: Suggestions for Families 11/29/22
Our last newsletter, “What Kind of Screen Time Parent Are You?”, offered an opportunity to consider the impact of screen time on our personal and family life. This edition offers some guidance taken from the professional literature about how parents can address the issues. Social networking sites (SNS) have flourished with the advent of technology […]
What Kind of Screen Time Parent Are You? Handout
What Kind of Screen Time Parent Are You? Are you strict on-screen time, or do you feel overwhelmed trying to set limits? What about actually enjoying media with your kids? Take this quiz to learn more about your parenting style when it comes to digital media. My kid(s) use screens…. Never, we’re Luddites For a […]
Nonsuicidal Self-Injury 10/13/22
Also known as self-injury and self-harm, non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) refers to the deliberate and direct alteration or destruction of healthy body tissue without suicidal intent. This can range from skin cutting or burning to amputation of body parts. There can also be a significant cultural component to the self-injury. While NSSI acts are done without […]
Signs of a Sensory Processing Disorder 9/14/22
Case Presentation 7-year-old boy with chief complaint of “frequent meltdowns”. Additional history: daily meltdowns (crying, hitting) with loud sounds or when asked to wear certain clothing; wants to make friends but poor boundaries and accidentally hurts peers at school when he is playing with them; hard time sitting during seat work at school and prefers […]
Psychodynamics of Intergenerational Transmission of Trauma Experiences 8/25/22
While Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) can arise spontaneously from any number of sources, one of the frequent causes of trauma exposure occurs when parents unconsciously re-enact their own trauma exposure(s) with their children. Sadly, most exposures to ACEs do not result in the affected individual (or their parent) receiving optimal psychological support and therapeutic intervention, […]
13th Annual Early Childhood Mental Health Conference – We Can’t Wait!
13th Annual Early Childhood Mental Health Conference – We Can’t Wait! How are the Children? The Path from Healing to Well-Being September 15-16, 2022 Virtual Event via Zoom https://www.earlychildhoodmentalhealth-sandiego.com/ Learning Objectives: Review the neurobiological nature of the developing brain and recognize how it is directly shaped by interpersonal experiences Examine the impact of early childhood experiences […]
Psychotropic Polypharmacy with Children and Adolescents 8/5/22
The challenges of addressing behavioral health problems in children and adolescents remain an ongoing dilemma because of the high incidence of youth with significant problems, coupled with the ongoing difficulties for families and providers in accessing and optimizing care in a coordinated and comprehensive manner. Particularly in the arena of prescribing psychotropic medications, there are […]
Complementary and/or Alternative Medicine for Behavioral Health Conditions: Resources 7/20/2022
Many people are interested in using complementary and/or alternative medicine (CAM) when they are dealing with physical or mental health concerns. This is sometimes because they are worried about side effects from traditional medical treatments. Sometimes it is because they are not seeing the relief they expected from the traditional treatment prescribed by their medical […]
Sleep Problems for Youth with Autism: Common, Treatable, At Times Challenging 7/6/22
Sleep disturbances are common among children and adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Up to 80% of parents in one review of youth with ASD reported prolonged sleep disturbances (Malow et al., 2016). Many studies have explored epidemiology, phenomenology and treatment strategies for insomnia in children with ASD or other neurodevelopmental or psychiatric disorders. While […]