Child and Adolescent Psychiatry services offered through telehealth throughout Illinois
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When your child struggles with mood, behavior, or focus, you want answers from someone who understands how these symptoms look at their age. Stephanie Kutella, APRN, PMHNP-BC, at Tohi Psychiatry in Downers Grove, Lemont, Mokena, and the Greater Chicagoland Area in Illinois, provides child and adolescent psychiatry for young patients and their families, with telehealth appointments available to patients throughout Illinois. She evaluates what your child is experiencing, explains what she finds in plain terms, and builds a treatment plan you both understand. Call the practice today or schedule your child's evaluation online.
Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Q & A
What is child and adolescent psychiatry?
Child and adolescent psychiatry focuses on diagnosing and treating mental health conditions in patients from early childhood through the teenage years.
Symptoms rarely look the same in a child as they do in an adult. Depression in a teenager can present as irritability rather than sadness, and anxiety in a younger child often comes out as stomachaches, clinginess, or refusing school.
Stephanie evaluates your child with those differences in mind, and she considers where your child sits developmentally rather than measuring them against an adult standard.
When should my child see a child and adolescent psychiatry provider?
Every child has rough weeks. Changes that persist and interfere with school, friendships, or home life call for an evaluation. Contact the practice if these signs show up at home or at school:
- A drop in grades or growing refusal to attend school
- Withdrawal from friends and activities your child used to enjoy
- Ongoing irritability, sadness, or worry
- Sleep or appetite changes lasting more than a few weeks
- Outbursts or physical aggression that seem extreme for their age
- Trouble concentrating or sitting still that affects schoolwork
- Comments about self-harm or not wanting to be here
Any statement about self-harm deserves immediate attention, so contact the practice or emergency services the same day.
Which conditions does Stephanie treat in child and adolescent psychiatry?
Stephanie evaluates and treats a range of conditions in children and teenagers, including:
- Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
- Anxiety disorders
- Depression and mood disorders
- Trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Autism spectrum disorder and other neurodevelopmental conditions
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Behavioral and emotional regulation difficulties
Many young patients meet criteria for more than one condition, and Stephanie sorts through overlapping symptoms during the evaluation.
How does treatment work in child and adolescent psychiatry?
Stephanie starts with a thorough evaluation that includes your observations, your child’s own account, and information from school when it helps. Treatment usually combines therapy with family involvement, since progress at home reinforces what happens in session.
When medication fits the diagnosis, she starts low, monitors closely, and reviews benefits and side effects with you at every step. She also coordinates with teachers, counselors, and your pediatrician so everyone supports the same plan.
Early treatment changes the course of your child's life. Call Tohi Psychiatry today or schedule an appointment online.