Renu Velisetty, M.D. is double board-certified in Child & Adolescent and Adult Psychiatry, giving her unique expertise to treat across all stages of life. . https://lotusintegrativepsychiatry.com .
Dr. Cecile C. LeBron is a board-certified emergency medicine physician who brings several years of experience to her role as the Chief Medical Officer and co-founder of Harmony Medical Concierge.
Empowering Families: A Holistic Approach to Pediatric and Adolescent Care
Raising children comes with many challenges, especially when emotional, behavioral, or developmental concerns arise. In a collaborative discussion, Dr. Stone, a licensed psychologist at Lighthouse Psychology, and Dr. Velisetty, a child psychiatrist, shared their compassionate approaches to supporting families. By combining thorough evaluations, therapy, and medical insights, they offer a comprehensive framework to help children and their families thrive.
This article explores their shared philosophies, tailored strategies, and how their combined efforts empower parents and children to navigate challenges with confidence.
A Comprehensive Understanding of Children
Dr. Stone’s approach focuses on curiosity and understanding to uncover a child's strengths and address struggles. She conducts detailed evaluations to assess how children think, learn, and solve problems. These evaluations provide clarity for families seeking to understand:
Attention-related issues like ADHD.
Learning difficulties, including dyslexia.
Emotional challenges such as anxiety or social struggles.
Once evaluated, Dr. Stone tailors treatment plans that equip parents and children with tools to address concerns like school performance, relationships, or behavior issues.
Dr. Velisetty adds a vital medical perspective to this process. With her expertise in psychiatry, she assesses whether underlying medical factors—like thyroid imbalances or vitamin deficiencies—might contribute to behavioral or emotional concerns. “Sometimes physical health and mental health are deeply connected, and understanding this interplay is key to effective care,” she explained.
Curiosity as the Starting Point
Both professionals encourage approaching challenges with curiosity rather than judgment. Evaluations aim to uncover how a child’s brain works, focusing not only on areas of struggle but also on their inherent strengths.
“When kids struggle, they can internalize harmful narratives like, ‘I’m not smart’ or ‘I’m a bad kid,’” Dr. Stone explained. “Through evaluations, we help replace these with empowering insights that allow them to understand their unique abilities.”
Dr. Velisetty echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the importance of combining such evaluations with preventive care. She frequently encourages mindfulness practices, sleep improvements, and holistic strategies to help families manage symptoms effectively.
Collaboration at Home, School, and Beyond
Children’s behavior often varies across environments, making collaboration with parents and teachers essential. Dr. Stone incorporates teacher feedback and classroom observations to gain a full picture of how children navigate school life. This helps her develop targeted strategies to support children in both academic and social settings.
At home, she works closely with parents to empower them with strategies that reinforce growth and learning. “Parents are essential partners in this process,” Dr. Stone shared. “The right approach at home can create countless opportunities for progress.”
Dr. Velisetty integrates seamlessly into this collaborative model, often working alongside therapists, educators, and other specialists to provide a cohesive plan of care. "No single professional has all the answers," she said. "Building a team ensures that the child’s emotional, behavioral, and physical needs are fully addressed.”
Strength-Focused Evaluations and Treatment
Evaluations conducted by Dr. Stone emphasize identifying a child's strengths while addressing specific concerns. Whether it’s ADHD, anxiety, or learning disabilities, her process highlights areas of growth without stigmatizing the child.
“Different doesn’t mean less—it just means different,” she explained, underscoring the importance of neurodiversity-affirming care. This strength-focused approach allows children to view their unique traits as assets.
Dr. Velisetty supports this by introducing non-medication treatments when appropriate, like transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) or mindfulness practices. "Medication has its place, but exploring all treatment options ensures we address the whole child,” she added.
Holistic and Tailored Support
The shared philosophy of both providers is that treatment is never one-size-fits-all. By blending evaluations, therapy, and medical care, they create comprehensive and flexible plans tailored to each child’s unique needs.
Dr. Velisetty also emphasizes preventive care, such as promoting good sleep, healthy nutrition, and regular movement to enhance mental health. "Small lifestyle changes can have a significant impact on mood and focus,” she said.
For families where medication is needed, Dr. Velisetty provides evidence-based guidance to ensure safety and effectiveness. “Even with medication, combining it with therapy often produces the best outcomes," she shared.
Time and Flexibility for Families
Both providers prioritize flexibility and time in their practices to ensure families receive comprehensive care. Dr. Stone and Dr. Velisetty operate outside the constraints of insurance models, allowing them to offer extended evaluations, longer sessions, and personalized approaches without rigid time limits.
This freedom ensures thorough diagnoses and treatment plans that encompass not just symptoms but the whole child. “Understanding the full picture takes time,” Dr. Velisetty explained. “Having that time allows us to dive deeper and create meaningful change.”
A Collaborative Care Model
Care doesn’t stop at the provider’s office. By involving parents, teachers, and other specialists, Dr. Stone and Dr. Velisetty work to create a supportive environment that reinforces progress. From classroom observations to helping parents reframe challenges at home, their team-based approach ensures continuity and consistency.
Dr. Velisetty highlighted the importance of educating parents: “Empowering parents helps them show up for their child in ways that promote long-term success.”
Conclusion
By combining their strengths, Dr. Stone and Dr. Velisetty provide families with a holistic, strength-focused approach to pediatric care. Their collaborative model integrates therapeutic strategies, medical expertise, and preventive care to empower families and support children in reaching their full potential.
Families seeking tailored guidance can explore services at Lighthouse Psychology or schedule consultations to begin their journey toward clarity and growth. Visit lighthousepsychology.health to learn more.
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