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Childhood Psychology

Disorders we treat

​Our multidisciplinary team of psychologists, psychiatrists, behavioral health specialists, and mobile exposure coaches delivers evidence-based treatment for a wide range of anxiety and related disorders.

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OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE DISORDER (OCD)

OCD is characterized by recurrent, intrusive thoughts called "obsessions" and ritualized, repetitive behaviors called "compulsions" that children feel they must perform in highly systemized ways. Common obsessions may include fears of contamination, germs, or causing harm to oneself or others. Some children may also experience a persistent sense that things aren’t “just right” unless they are arranged in a particular way or completed in a specific order. Common compulsions include excessive handwashing, ritualized toileting or bathing, avoidance of potentially contaminated objects (such as doorknobs), and repetitive behaviors like rereading, rewriting, erasing, tapping, touching, or checking.

GENERALIZED ANXIETY DISORDER (GAD)

GAD is characterized by excessive and persistent worry across a wide range of areas, including concerns about family and friends, the future, school or work, health, and finances. People with GAD may feel like they are always worried, may ruminate often, and may experience physical symptoms of anxiety such as muscle tension, stomachaches, and difficulty sleeping.

Separation Anxiety Disorder

Separation anxiety disorder in children involves excessive fear or anxiety about being separated from home or a primary caregiver. Common symptoms include persistent worries about actual or anticipated separation, refusal to leave home, difficulty sleeping alone, stomachaches, and irrational fears related to separation. For a diagnosis, symptoms must be present for at least four weeks and interfere with the child’s daily functioning.

Social Anxiety Disorder

Social anxiety disorder is characterized by intense fear or anxiety in social or performance situations, often leading to avoidance behaviors. Children may fear specific scenarios, such as speaking in front of others, or may experience anxiety across a wide range of social interactions. This fear typically stems from concerns about being judged, embarrassed, or negatively evaluated by others.

SPECIFIC PHOBIAS

Specific phobias are characterized by an intense, irrational fear of a particular object or situation. In children, common examples include fears of animals (such as dogs or spiders), the dark, loud noises, storms, and medical procedures involving needles.

PANIC DISORDER

A panic disorder is diagnosed when a child experiences unexpected, recurrent panic attacks, intense episodes of fear or discomfort that seem to occur out of the blue and develops ongoing worry or fear about having additional attacks. This preoccupation can lead to changes in behavior, such as avoidance of situations where a panic attack might occur.

AGORAPHOBIA

Agoraphobia may be diagnosed when a child consistently avoids certain places or situations due to fear of having a panic attack or experiencing intense anxiety. These situations are often perceived as difficult to escape from or where help might not be available, leading to significant limitations in the child’s daily activities and independence.

SELECTIVE MUTISM

Selective mutism is diagnosed when a child consistently fails to speak in certain social situations, such as at school or in public, despite having the physical ability to speak and speaking comfortably in other settings, such as at home. This inability or unwillingness to speak typically reflects underlying anxiety, often related to social interaction.

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TIC DISORDERS

Tics are sudden, rapid, recurrent movements or vocalizations that are generally experienced as irresistible. Tics are classified as either motor tics or vocal tics and can be simple or complex. Examples of simple motor tics include eye blinking and nose wrinkling, while complex motor tics may involve more coordinated movements, such as specific hand gestures. Simple vocal tics include throat clearing and sniffing, whereas complex vocal tics might involve sudden changes in speech volume. 

Tourette’s Disorder is a tic disorder characterized by multiple motor tics and one or more vocal tic. Tics occur many times per day throughout a period of more than one year. Chronic Motor or Vocal Tic Disorder involves either motor or vocal tics persisting for at least 12 months.

TRICHOTILLOMANIA (HAIR-PULLING DISORDER)

Trichotillomania (Hair-Pulling Disorder) is characterized by the recurrent pulling out of one’s own hair, leading to noticeable hair loss. This behavior can affect any area of the body where hair grows, with the most common sites being the scalp, eyebrows, and eyelashes.

DERMATILLOMANIA
(SKIN-PICKING DISORDER)

Dermatillomania (Skin-Picking Disorder), also known as Excoriation, is characterized by repetitive picking at one’s own skin to the point of causing damage. The face is the most common location for skin picking, though it can involve any part of the body. Individuals may use their fingernails, teeth, tweezers, pins, or other devices to pick at healthy skin, freckles, moles, pre-existing scabs, sores, acne blemishes, or perceived skin imperfections that are not visible to others.

BODY DYSMORPHIC DISORDER

Body Dysmorphic Disorder is a body-image disorder characterized by persistent, intrusive thoughts about a perceived flaw in one’s appearance. These thoughts often consume a lot of time and energy, interfere with daily functioning, and cause considerable emotional distress.  

For other concerns...

If you or your child are experiencing non-anxiety-related symptoms and are seeking services, you can call KidsLink Rhode Island for referrals at 1-855-543-5465.

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