Services for children and adolescents

Care for children in Columbus, NE

When children and teens are struggling with challenging behaviors or mental health issues, they need caring, compassionate professionals who are willing to work with both them and their families. Columbus Psychiatry Clinic provides three distinct services for families who need child and adolescent services — medication management, therapy and psychological testing.

Medication management

It is a big step for a child or adolescent to take medication for mental health issues. Whether your child needs medication for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), anxiety, depression or any other condition, our clinicians will use evidence-based practices to make sure they are safe and have just the right care.

Therapy

Our team uses a range of evidence-based therapies to help support children and teens. Based on your child’s needs, we may elect to offer individual therapy, using strategies including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT). It isn’t our job to change who they are; rather, we can help them learn how to better interact with the world around them.

We also keep in mind that therapy is not just for struggling children and teens — it is also for the entire family. A young person’s environment is critical to their success, and our psychologist and therapists work with parents and, in some cases, siblings to get to the root of a youth’s challenges, as well as to build up new skills and behaviors that will help them succeed. We also collaborate with the other professionals in young people’s lives to make sure we are all working as a team.

Psychological evaluations

Dr. Tara Sjuts, PhD, LP, offers psychological evaluation and testing for children of all ages at Columbus Psychiatry Clinic. She conducts comprehensive testing for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder, as well as many other psychological conditions. Dr. Sjuts’ testing approach often includes consultation with medical professionals, school professionals and other important individuals in children’s lives in order to rule out competing factors that may be influencing a child’s behavior. And when all the results are in, Dr. Sjuts will walk families through the information and data, discuss what it means, and identify appropriate treatment options and next steps.

Dr. Sjuts is approved to offer independent educational evaluations (IEE) through the Nebraska Department of Education. Families who are concerned about their child’s school evaluation and desire a second opinion may contact their school’s special education team to initiate the process for an IEE.

To learn more about the services we offer for children and adolescents, call Columbus Psychiatry Clinic at 402-562-4765.