It takes a special set of skills to provide mental health services to children and adolescents. At Auburn Psychological Wellness Center (APWC), several of our providers specialize in services for children and adolescents. Check out each of our services below and then visit our provider profiles to learn more. Our office is located in Auburn, AL.
Counseling
At APWC, we can provide counseling to children as young as age eight. Sessions with young children may involve play-like activities that help children express their thoughts and feelings, as well as learn new coping skills. Sessions may also include parent(s) or caregiver(s) for part of the session. For older children and adolescents, their privacy becomes more important. Involvement of other family members in counseling sessions will depend on clinical need and the client’s preferences. Boundaries on what will be shared and what will be kept private can be discussed in the first session and will be revisited as needed. Ms. Jeanne Harper sees children and teens age 8 to 17. Dr. Alfredo Palacios typically sees clients age 12 and up because he is a telehealth-only provider (video sessions), but he is trained to work with children of all ages. Ms. Miranda Newman works with pre-teens and teens (age 12+). Ms. Hannah Spates seeing teens age 14+ and Dr. Ashley Brown works with teens 15+.
Psychological Assessment
At APWC, we offer psychological assessment to clients age 8 and up. Psychological assessment is helpful when children are having learning difficulties in school or if you need to clarify mental health diagnoses to inform treatment options. We offer testing for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), learning disabilities, intellectual disabilities, and general mental health concerns. We also offer testing for autism spectrum disorder for children and teens who have the ability to communicate verbally. All of our assessment providers can see clients age 8 and up.
Psychiatry
We offer psychiatry services to children and adolescents. Ms. Ann Madsen is our main psychiatry provider for children and teens. Schedule a psychiatry appointment if you think medication could be helpful to treat your child’s mental health concerns. Please note that we do not prescribe substances with a high potential for abuse or dependence. The most common medications in this group for children and adolescents are stimulants to treat ADHD. Ms. Madsen would be happy to discuss safer alternatives for managing symptoms related to ADHD. In cases where stimulants are the right option, she may collaborate with your primary care provider for your prescription. Psychiatry services also include a focus on behavioral and lifestyle changes that can help manage your child’s symptoms.
Contact APWC
Please call us at 334.219.0425 if you would like to schedule an appointment for your child at APWC.