Behavioral Health

Behavioral changes in your child, like angry outbursts, difficulty concentrating, and social withdrawal, may indicate an underlying problem. One World Pediatrics in Longwood, Florida, has a team of board-certified pediatricians and nurse practitioners who understand complex behavioral health challenges. For expert support and guidance on these issues, call One World Pediatrics or schedule an appointment online today.

What is behavioral health?

Behavioral health is the connection between how your child thinks, feels, and acts and how it affects their well-being. It includes mental health conditions and behaviors like eating habits, sleep patterns, and substance use. 

Taking care of your child’s behavioral health means paying attention to how their behaviors and emotions affect their health and seeking support to help them manage stress and complex emotions.

Who can benefit from behavioral health care?

Many children, adolescents, and adults can benefit from comprehensive behavioral health care, especially if they experience:

• Emotional challenges
• Behavioral issues
• Social difficulties
• Academic struggles
• Sleep problems
• Appetite or weight changes
• Substance use 
• Difficulty managing stress
• Trouble regulating emotions
• Self-esteem struggles
• Problems with focus and attention
• Difficulty adjusting to life changes (moving, parental divorce, etc.)

While these challenges are often temporary, behavioral health care from the experts at One World Pediatrics can help your child develop healthy coping strategies and support their emotional well-being.

What are some common behavioral health issues in children and adolescents?

Children, adolescents, and young adults experience many complex mental and behavioral health challenges as they age, including:

• Anxiety and depression
• Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
• Autism
• Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD)
• Conduct disorder
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
• Eating disorders
• Learning disorders

One World Pediatrics has the most experience in the Longwood area in diagnosing and treating complex behavioral health issues. If your child shows signs of any of these disorders, the team offers expert care and support to help manage their condition and improve their quality of life.

How are behavioral health problems treated?

Depending on your child’s age, the team may conduct a developmental screening to identify your child’s behavioral challenges. These screenings typically occur at birth, then at 2, 4, 6, 9, 12, 18, 24, and 30 months. After that, the team assesses your child’s behavioral health at their annual physical and wellness exams.

Once the team diagnoses your child’s condition and understands their symptoms, they design an individualized behavioral health treatment plan that may include:

• Medication management
• Behavioral therapy
• Parent education and support
• Collaboration with schools, including developing Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) or 504 plans 

The team works closely with you and your family to ensure your child gets the help, support, and guidance they need to thrive.

Call One World Pediatrics today or schedule an appointment online for personalized behavioral health care.