Child Anxiety Disorders Clinic
Initial Evaluation Procedure
Treatment Programs
Phobias and Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety Secondary To Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Cost
The Child Anxiety Disorders Clinic (CADC) is a clinical/research specialty clinic of FDU’s Center for Psychological Services. The CADC specializes in the cognitive-behavioral assessment and treatment of anxiety and related disorders in children and adolescents. The clinic is staffed by licensed clinical child psychologists and doctoral students affiliated with the Ph.D. program in clinical psychology. The CADC provides comprehensive assessment and intervention services for children and adolescents, ages 3 to 17, and their families. Families may be self-referred, or referrals may be made through family physicians, schools, or mental health professionals.
A comprehensive assessment is conducted by the staff and involves separate structured interviews with children and their parents. The interviews specifically assess anxiety and related problems and examine each child’s past and current psychological functioning. In addition, a number of paper and pencil questionnaires may also be administered to children, parents, and teachers (if appropriate) to provide further information on each child’s psychological functioning.
Current treatment programs available at the CADC focus on phobias, chronic worry, social anxiety, panic attacks, obsessions and compulsions, and school refusal behavior. In addition, we also focus on neurodevelopmental disorders (Tourette’s Syndrome and Asperger’s Disorder) that have strong anxiety features. The treatments may be group or individual, and typically last about 12 sessions. Treatment sessions generally occur at the CADC. However, home visits and/or school consultations are scheduled on an as needed basis.
Phobias
Children and adolescents fear and often avoid specific objects and situations. The most common phobias involve animals (e.g., dogs, cats, insects), being alone, taking tests, doctors/dentists, blood-tests, darkness, thunder/lightning and forms of transportation (e.g., cars, buses, trains, planes).
Chronic Anxiety/Worry
Some children and adolescents experience persistent anxiety that can occur in the presence or absence of stressful events. Chronic anxiety is often expressed in the form of somatic complaints (e.g., inability to relax, muscle tension, stomachaches, headaches) and frequent worries (e.g., school, family, friends, money, health).
Social Anxiety
Children and adolescents with social anxiety frequently avoid situations in which their actions may be observed by others and fear that they will be embarrassed or humiliated. Common situations include speaking in front of others, eating in public places, going to parties and using public bathrooms.
Seperation Anxiety/Scholl Refusal Behavior
Some children and adolescents experience persistent anxiety when separating from major attachment figures. Children often worry that their parents will be harmed (e.g., car accident), or that they themselves will be kidnapped or become the victim of an accident. Often children are unable to sleep alone and will avoid being alone at all times (e.g., refusing to go to school). School-related difficulties may involve specific fears (e.g., school building, teacher), family issues or peer-related issues.
Panic Attacks
Some children and adolescents experience a sudden rush of intense fear or anxiety in the absence of stressful events (i.e., totally out of the blue). Common physical symptoms include difficulty breathing, palpitations, dizziness, shaking, and the feeling of losing control or going crazy.
Obsessions And Compulsions
Some children and adolescents experience obsessions and/or compulsions. Obsessions are persistent ideas or images that are intrusive and senseless. Compulsions are repetitive behaviors that are intended to prevent or correct discomfort or some dreaded event. The most common obsessions are repetitive thoughts of violence, contamination, and self-doubt. The most common compulsions are cleaning and checking rituals as well as trichotillomania (pulling out one’s hair, eyelashes, or eyebrows).
Anxiety Secondary To Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Tourette’s Syndrome
Some children and adolescents who experience chronic motor (e.g., eye blinking, head jerking), and/or vocal (e.g., sniffing, throat clearing) tics also experience related problems as well including obsessions and compulsions, generalized anxiety, hyperactivity, impulsivity, psychological rigidity, and distractibility.
Asperger’s Disorder
Some children and adolescents who maintain appropriate intellectual and cognitive functions experience marked deficits in their social interaction skills (e.g., poor eye contact, lack of social or emotional reciprocity, psychological rigidity, repetitive motor movements). Anxiety, hyperactivity, and impulsivity are common associated features.
School Consultation/Psychological Testing
Some children and adolescents with anxiety and related disorders experience academic and/or social-emotional difficulties in school settings. School consultations (e.g., classroom observations, implementing behavioral plans, sitting in on IEP meetings, working with school personnel) are arranged on an as needed basis to help foster each child’s adjustment. In addition, psychological testing (intellectual, psychoeducational, and LD evaluations) can help identify academic strengths and weaknesses as well as the nature of a child’s social-emotional difficulties.
The fee structure for assessment and treatment is based on a sliding scale so as not to restrict anyone from participating. Separate fee structures are available for licensed psychologists and doctoral students.
