It can be overwhelming to face a new diagnosis, serious injury or treatment. If your child is experiencing stress, anxiety or other mental health challenges associated with their care, we can help.
Our Approach to Psychology Care
Orthopedic conditions and sports injuries affect more than just your child’s bones and joints. Pain, long recoveries and time away from sports or friends can be challenging for kids and their families.
That’s where Scottish Rite’s Psychology team comes in.
We focus on understanding how your child’s physical health is affecting their emotional well-being, as well as how their emotions are impacting their physical functioning. We will partner with you and your child’s medical team to provide the support, tools and resources your child needs.
While each child’s needs are different, we can help your child:
- Manage stress, anxiousness or sadness related to an injury, surgery or chronic condition
- Prepare for surgery and other treatments
- Learn skills to manage pain
- Return to school and/or return to sport with confidence
Addressing psychological challenges of orthopedic conditions and sports can help your child improve pain coping, reduce distress and even improve physical recovery.
Your Partner in Care
We make sure no family navigates these challenges alone. As a partner in your child’s care, we’ll help you understand:
- What your child is experiencing
- Ways to support your child, including how to discuss care decisions in age-appropriate ways
- How to navigate medical decision-making
- Community resources available
- How to care for yourself
What to Expect With Psychology Care
Every child has their own unique needs and challenges. That’s why your child’s first visit centers around getting to know them, discussing their diagnosis and treatment (if applicable) and setting goals.
Before the appointment, you’ll fill out a questionnaire about your child’s health, challenges and concerns. Your child’s provider will review this alongside the referring physician’s notes before your first visit.
Most first visits last about 45-60 minutes. During the appointment, your provider will spend time with you and/or your child to discuss:
- Your child’s health and developmental history
- How your child’s condition or injury is affecting them both physically and emotionally
- Goals for your child’s care plan
- Recommendations and a clear plan forward
Psychology Services & Treatments
Our pediatric psychology team provides therapy in several settings, depending on your child’s needs. Care may be delivered individually, with family members or in groups.
The following treatment approaches may be used as part of your child’s care:
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
- Behavioral Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- Mindfulness
- Motivational Interviewing
- Non-Pharmacologic Pain Management
Why Choose Us?
Improved surgical outcomes: We can help your child mentally prepare for surgery. Research has shown that kids who receive psychological support before surgery often recover faster and need less pain medication afterward.
Coordinated care with orthopedic, sports, developmental, neurological and rheumatological specialists: Our pediatric psychologists may see your child during medical appointments, reducing the need for extra visits. Care is also available through dedicated psychology visits, virtual appointments and hospital-based care when needed.
Emotional safety screening: We routinely check in on your child’s emotional well-being throughout their care, even if they are not referred to psychology. Distress screening allows us to monitor and identify concerns early, providing the right level of support at the right time.
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No, Scottish Rite does not offer general mental health care for kids and teens. We provide pediatric psychological care only to patients who need mental health support related to their medical condition, injury or treatment at Scottish Rite.
If your child needs general behavioral and mental health care that is not associated with their Scottish Rite medical care, we can help connect you to trusted community providers.
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To receive pediatric psychology care at Scottish Rite, your child will need a referral from their medical care team. We do not accept self-referrals.
After your child’s provider makes the referral, our scheduling coordinator will promptly contact you by phone and/or MyChart to schedule your child’s appointment.
We offer pediatric psychology appointments Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. We do not offer weekend or evening hours.
We also provide inpatient care to patients who are hospitalized. For inpatient care, we’ll coordinate closely with your child’s care team to see them in the hospital.
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Yes. Our pediatric psychologists offer both in-person and virtual pediatric psychology appointments.
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As part of Scottish Rite’s comprehensive approach to medical care, our Psychology team routinely checks in to identify mental health concerns in all patients. This includes screening for suicide risk. With this approach, we can address mental health concerns quickly and ideally prevent crisis situations.
As part of our screening process, we provide real-time support and connect families to appropriate resources either within the hospital or the community.
Talk to your provider if you have questions or concerns about this screening.
