Common Conditions We Support
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Anxiety Disorders
This often looks like persistent worrying, difficulty separating from parents, or intense physical discomfort in social or performance situations.
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Depression and Mood Disorders
Children and teens might appear unusually irritable, lose interest in favorite hobbies, or experience changes in sleep and appetite patterns.
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Behavioral and Impulse-control Concerns
Ongoing difficulties with following rules, managing frustration, or acting before thinking that disrupts everyday stability and family harmony.
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Autism-related Emotional Challenges
We support co-occurring emotional and behavioral concerns in neurodivergent youth.
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Trauma and Stress-related Concerns
Young adults and children may react to stressful life events with heightened sensitivity, sleep disturbances, or intense emotional outbursts.
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ADHD and Attention Concerns
Frequently characterized by significant difficulty staying focused on tasks, restless energy, and impulsive choices that affect school and home life.
Of note, we do not prescribe stimulants but will make recommendations to your PCP or prescribe other options.
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School and Social Difficulties
This can manifest as avoidance of school environments, struggling to form peer connections, or feeling overwhelmed in typical social settings.
Somatic Symptoms And Their Psychological Impact
What are Somatic Symptoms?
Impact on Young Lives
A Mind-Body Pathway
Somatic symptoms are real physical sensations—like pain, fatigue, or dizziness—that are significantly distressing or disruptive. In somatic disorders, the brain and body communicate in ways that amplify these feelings, even when no clear medical cause is found.
Chronic pain isn't just physical. For children and teens, it often leads to anxiety about movement, school avoidance, and social isolation. This 'pain cycle' can affect mood and make daily life feel overwhelming.
We treat the whole person, not just the symptom. By looking at how physical pain and mental well-being overlap, we help young people regain their function and confidence through non-blaming, trauma-informed care.
The Golden Strides Approach
We believe your pain is real. We work with families to validate these experiences while building a collaborative plan that focuses on stability and returning to the activities you love.
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Validation: We start by acknowledging that your physical symptoms and pain are real and impactful.
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Holistic View: Together, we examine how stress, emotions, and physical sensations interact in the brain.
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Collaborative Plan: We build a supportive roadmap tailored to your age and specific goals for daily life.
Is Golden Strides the Right Fit for Your Family?
Finding the right psychiatric support is a significant decision for any parent or patient. Our clinic is specifically designed for children, teens, and young adults from ages 4 to 30 years old who require expert outpatient evaluation and thoughtful medication management within a supportive, trauma-informed environment.
We may not be the best fit if...
- Your child requires immediate inpatient-level emergency care.
- There is active self-harm requiring 24/7 clinical monitoring.
- You are seeking court-ordered psychiatric evaluations.
- You require intensive daily residential treatment programs.
- You are looking for a comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation or learning disorders assessment
If you or your child are experiencing a mental health crisis, please call or text 988 or reach out to your local emergency services immediately for 24/7 support.
We emphasize a collaborative approach, working closely with families to ensure care is culturally sensitive and aligned with your child's unique needs. We are here to provide the clinical expertise and steady guidance necessary for your family's journey toward wellness.
We may be a good fit if...
- Your child needs an outpatient psychiatric evaluation.
- You are seeking collaborative medication management.
- You value a trauma-informed and family-centered approach.
- Your child is a teen or young adult transitioning to independent care.
- You need support navigating school or social difficulties.