Behavioral Health

What is Behavioral Health?

What We Do

In cooperation with community based mental health providers, we evaluate and treat children for behavior concerns and school problems including:


  • inattention and lack of focus
  • anxiety
  • depression


DOES YOUR CHILD NEED A BEHAVIORAL EVALUATION?


If you have concerns about your child's behavioral development, please call our office at 813-940-8140.  The front desk can schedule a Behavioral Evaluation with Dr. Rivera and provide you with assessment tools that you can complete prior to the your visit.

ADD/ADHD - Assessment tools for ADD/ADHD that may be assigned to you include:​


  • Vanderbilt Assessment - Parent Initial
  • Vanderbilt Assessment - Teacher Initial


Before your appointment:

  • download both assessments
  • complete the Parent Assessment and return to our office. 
  • provide Teacher Assessment to your child's teacher. Ask the teacher to complete and return to our office.


ANXIETY - Assessment tools for anxiety that may be assigned to you include:


  • Screen for Child Anxiety Related Disorders (SCARED) - Parent
  • Screen for Child Anxiety Related Disorders (SCARED) - Child
     

DEPRESSION - Assessment tools for depression that may be assigned to you include:


  • Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ9)
  • Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale for Children (CES-DC)


OCD - Assessment tools for obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) that may be assigned to you include:
 

  • Children's Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (CY-BOCS) ​


WHAT TO EXPECT AT A BEHAVIORAL EVALUATION


At least one week prior to your appointment, complete assigned assessments noted above. On the day of your child's behavioral evaluation, please arrive 10 minutes prior to your scheduled appointment time. Ideally, your child should eat a nutritious meal prior to the appointment and be well-rested.


You and your child will meet with a nurse to obtain pertinent medical and behavioral history. Both you and your child will then meet with Dr. Rivera who will perform a thorough assessment and develop a behavioral health management plan for your child. Dr. Rivera may recommend additional counseling to best serve your child.


ONGOING MEDICATION MANAGEMENT


After your child's initial evaluation, if medication is started, your child must be seen within 28 days in order to continue the medication. If your child is doing well with his/her medication, subsequent appointments will be scheduled every 3 months. If a medication or dosage change is needed, your child must be seen within 1 month to assess your child's progress and to determine if the medication can be refilled.

Is Your Child Sick?®