Development, Behavior and Mental Health Services

Collaborative In-house Therapy (CIT)

At Capital Area Pediatrics, we believe that mental health is a large part of the overall health of every child. We are happy to offer our Collaborative In-house Therapy (CIT) program. In this program, there are mental health professionals at all of our 5 main locations. CIT is designed to be short-term, skills-based, solution-focused treatment for kids aged 8-18 with one or two presenting concerns. Sessions are 45-50 minutes often offered after school and evening hours (depending on the location and availability).

Presenting concerns may include: anxiety, ADHD, depression, emotional regulation, low self-esteem, perfectionism, stress related to life-transitions, behavior management challenges, school anxiety/ avoidance.

Who: Children ages 8-18 years old

Where: Any one of CAP's 5 main locations, depending on availability

Cost: Billed and covered by most insurance companies

Please discuss with your regular CAP provider at their next annual well visit or schedule a consult to discuss your concerns. If determined that CIT would be a good fit for your child, your CAP provider will generate an internal referral. You may not self-schedule or request an appointment on your own.on your own.

STAT testing (Screening Tool for Autism in Toddlers and Young Children)

Early diagnosis of autism is essential to improving the quality of life and developmental outcomes for children on the autism spectrum and their families. A diagnosis allows for more supports in the community (early intervention and child find programs); at home (Applied Behavioral Analysis, speech therapy, occupational therapy, social skills groups, etc); and in the medical setting.

Who:

• Patients between the age of 15 and 47 months (Ideal is 24-36mo)
• Must be referred by your primary pediatrician within CAP
• Moderate to high risk scoring on their MCHAT (modified checklist for autism in toddlers) which we have you complete upon check in at the 18 and 24 month well visits.
• High suspicion by their family, caregivers, or primary providers.

How:

• 3 sessions: The 1st is a parent only session which can be virtual or in person and lasts about one hour. The 2nd session is with your toddler and 1 parent and must be in-person, which lasts about 30 minutes. The 3rd session is once again parent only and may be virtual or in person.

Where: The in-person portion is currently being offered at the Falls Church location.

Cost: The STAT testing is billed and covered by most insurance companies.

Please message your regular provider to generate an internal referral to be considered for STAT testing. Not all patients will qualify or meet inclusion criteria for STAT testing. You may not self-schedule or request an appointment on your own.

The Triple P – Positive Parenting Program ®

Triple P is an evidence-based parenting and family support system designed to reduce problem behavior in children and improve parents’ wellbeing and parenting skills. Launching now at CAP, our Triple P-trained providers will be offering a brief targeted 1:1 intervention for parents of children from birth to 12 years with mild to moderate behavioral difficulties. Parents will be guided in the management of a specific problem behavior of their choosing over the course of four sessions at roughly 1-week intervals. Sessions can be attended in-person or virtually. While the focus will be on a single behavioral issue, parents will have access to a wealth of information to empower them to address additional parenting challenges. For more information about Triple P, please watch this short video.

Who: Parents of children from birth up to 12 years of age seeking management of discrete child problem behaviors or developmental issues that are not complicated by other major behavior management difficulties or family dysfunction. Families must already be existing CAP patients.

Where: Virtual or Herndon office.

Cost: Triple P is a program billed and covered by most insurance companies. Triple P is currently offered in English and in Spanish.

Please message your regular provider to generate an internal referral to be considered for our Early Childhood Screen/ Program. Not all patients will qualify or meet inclusion criteria for this program. You may not self-schedule or request an appointment on your own.

Treatment for Medical Anxiety

Children often experience some fear or anxiety around medical and dental appointments and procedures. For some, however, this fear can escalate into an extreme emotional response, resulting in delayed or incomplete care.

If your child is unable to proceed with necessary medical care because of an extreme fear response, Capital Area Pediatrics offers targeted therapeutic intervention through our collaborative in-house therapy program.

Our medical anxiety treatment program is located at the Ashburn CAP location with our clinical social worker, Lauren Dickinson. Lauren will work with children and their families to better understand their anxiety and develop ways to ease symptoms through calming strategies, exposure, and desensitization. Treatment duration is based on patient need.

Who: Existing CAP patients with fear or anxiety around medical or dental appointments

Where: Ashburn and Sleepy Hollow offices (select days every month)

Fee: Visits are billed to your insurance as a mental health therapy appointment. Billing codes for these appointments are 90791 and 90834.

Please message your regular provider to generate an internal referral to be contacted for an appointment.

Sleep Consulting

25-50% of children over age 6 months continue to awaken during the night. Improving sleep can positively affect a child’s cognitive development, mood regulation, attention and behavior as well as overall quality of life.  

Sleep Consulting is an evidence-based opportunity at CAP to help children ages 6 months to preschool age to help improve both nighttime and daytime sleep. Both extinction methods and gradual approaches are offered and will be used in conjunction with a comprehensive, individualized sleep plan. Sessions are 20-30 minutes and include follow ups every 1-2 weeks until sleep has improved. Sessions can be attended in-person or virtually. 

Who: Parents of children from 6 months up to preschool age seeking management of sleep. Families must already be existing CAP patients.  

Where: Virtual or Herndon office. 

Cost: Billed and covered by most insurance companies 

Please message your regular provider to generate an internal referral to be considered for our Sleep Consulting Program. Not all patients will qualify or meet inclusion criteria for this program. You may not self-schedule or request an appointment on your own