Harvard Psychologist Dr. Ellen Braaten Advised Parents on Finding Mental Health Care for Their Child
Summary
For some children, a new school year means they are repeating the same struggles they have had in the past; for others, the challenges of a an advanced grade, new teachers, or an unfamiliar environment can lead to new and unforeseen problems and adjustments.Braaten’s latest book, “How to Find Mental Health Care for Your Child” finally gives parents an easy to understand road map defining terms such as cognitive-behavior therapy and mood dysregulation and answering questions such as, how do I get an appropriate diagnosis?Published by the American Psychological Association (APA), “How to Find Mental Health Care for Your Child,” is the first book to offer thoughtful, reassuring advice for many parents seeking diagnosis or treatment for their child’s emotional or developmental issues.Ellen Braaten, Director of the Learning and Emotional Assessment program (LEAP) at Massachusetts General Hospital and Assistant Professor of Psychology at Harvard Medical School, explains: “The notion that pediatricians should be screening for mental health issues at every visit has been a long time coming.For some children, a new school year means they are repeating the same struggles they have had in the past; for others, the challenges of a an advanced grade, new teachers, or an unfamiliar environment can lead to new and unforeseen problems and adjustments.Braaten believes that parents very often identify that their child might be in need of help, but frequently do not know where to to seek help, what steps to take or even what to ask or explain to the doctor.Braaten’s latest book, “How to Find Mental Health Care for Your Child” finally gives parents an easy to understand road map defining terms such as cognitive-behavior therapy and mood dysregulation and answering questions such as, how do I get an appropriate diagnosis?