What is Behavioral Medicine?
Behavioral Medicine at Teen Therapy Center is a modern approach to mental health care which was created to address the mental health care needs of the broader community. While mental health care delivery models have historically served various ages and behavioral health issues in disparate clinical programs, Teen Therapy Center’s Behavioral Medicine Department offers a novel family-and-community-wide approach to behavioral health under one roof.
Acknowledging the complexity of human behavior throughout the lifespan, Behavioral Medicine provides neurodevelopmental, behavioral, and mental-psychiatric health care for teens ages 12 to 19.
Led by Makenzie Wesner, a Behavioral Nurse Practitioner with exhaustive experience in child development and behavior with the guidance of Dr. Saad Shakir, a second-opinion expert in adolescent and adult psychiatry, Behavioral Medicine is able to offer the comprehensive care for families that providers often fall short of: high-quality early childhood to young adult mental health care that includes a comprehensive and holistic analysis of strengths and challenges, diagnostics, and actionable treatment plans.
How is Behavioral Medicine unique at Teen Therapy Center?
With demand for behavioral health care services at an all-time high, there is a shortage of behavioral health care providers. With providers often stretched thin to accommodate this crisis, support for health care providers is often limited which results in the compromise of health care quality and continuity.
Teen Therapy Center's Behavioral Medicine Department provides the following key elements to ensure high-quality and continuous behavioral health care:
Provider influence on the system of care to accommodate the complex needs of the community
Consistent multidisciplinary-team-based collaboration and company-wide support for all providers
A commitment to reducing wait times so families can get the help they need quickly
Specialties of the Department include:
Autism Spectrum, ADHD, Sensory Processing, Developmental Delays (Cognitive, Social-Emotional, Motor), Tic Disorders, Executive Dysfunction
Anxiety, OCD, Trauma and Stressor-Related Disorders (PTSD)
Depression, Mood Dysregulation Disorders
Gender-Affirming Care
What is the assessment process like?
When there are unanswered questions about a teen's development, behaviors, or mental health, an initial Behavioral Medicine assessment can uncover underlying issues which often impact learning, performance, socialization, family function, self-esteem, safety, and/or quality of life.
An initial assessment is scheduled with the teen and parents for two hours for a cost of $1,200. A Behavioral Nurse Practitioner closely reviews a teen's behavioral symptoms during this first assessment meeting. An initial assessment is completed to diagnose neurodevelopmental, behavioral, and mental health or psychiatric conditions. However, patients are provided with a detailed description of the overall clinical impression (or "big clinical picture"). The practitioner also provides treatment recommendations, which include specific behavioral-medical/medication guidance, wellness guidelines, and educational suggestions. Some patients participating in this assessment have never had any contact with a mental health provider, while others are already in therapy and seek additional treatment recommendations, perhaps with the help of medication.
Process of ongoing care:
After your assessment, your Behavioral Nurse Practitioner will provide you with educational information about your challenges including a diagnosis or diagnoses, which can help you to understand your symptoms and treatment options. Your Behavioral Nurse Practitioner will partner with you and your support system (e.g., family, educators, therapists), to develop a manageable plan for progress. Your Behavioral Nurse Practitioner may order laboratory studies; prescribe medication(s); provide recommendations on sleep hygiene, nutrition, and exercise; and any other relevant behavioral guidance.
When a treatment such as medication is recommended, your Behavioral Nurse Practitioner will describe:
Why the treatment was recommended
How the treatment works
What alternative treatments are
What the potential side-effects are
Any potential risks of the treatment
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During this visit, the parents and the teen will be present. The Behavioral Medicine provider will generally review previously submitted documents in preparation for this visit. A thorough history of the teen and family will be taken. Areas covered will include developmental, genetic, medical, educational, social, behavioral/psychiatric, and family history. Goals of the teen and the family will also be highlighted, and a behavioral observation will occur. Educational screening (limited academic testing) may occur. A mini-physical examination may also occur.
By the end of the assessment, the provider will review impressions of a teen’s behavioral profile including a teen’s strengths, diagnostics, and treatment recommendations. These may include recommendations for sleep, nutrition, exercise, socialization, therapy, education, and possibly medication. If medication is recommended, you will be given information about the potential benefits, side effects, and anticipated duration of use. The prescription may also be given at this time.
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Standard follow-up sessions for teens are 20 to 25-minutes for $225. These sessions will focus on monitoring progress (i.e., towards treatment goals) and assessing for any side effects related to medication. Lifestyle modification and therapeutic strategies will be emphasized. Additionally, all medication refills and laboratory requests will be completed at this time.
The frequency of the follow-up sessions depends on the needs of the client. During medication changes or times of increased distress, the frequency can be weekly or other every other week. Once stabilization of symptoms is achieved, sessions are typically once a month.
Moderate complexity follow-up visits may require 30-35 minutes duration for $315.
High complexity follow-up visits may require 45-50 minutes for $450.
Recommendations for longer follow-up visits will be discussed with patients ahead of time and patients are welcome to request extended visits at any point throughout treatment.
If the Behavioral Medicine provider provides behavioral/psychotherapy outside of regularly scheduled Behavioral Medicine follow-up visits, 25-30, 45-50, or 55-60-minute sessions may be scheduled at various frequencies. These session can incorporate medical monitoring visits as appropriate.
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Teen Therapy Center is an out-of-network provider and does not take insurance. However, monthly superbills are provided so families can seek reimbursement with their insurance company.
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Please watch this short video that will walk you through our online scheduling process.
