Treating Mood, Anxiety, and Behavioral Health Conditions

At Next Step Psychiatry, we provide outpatient mental health services including diagnosis, psychotherapy, and medication management. Our goal is to offer accessible psychiatric care with in-network solutions tailored to your unique needs—so you can get the right level of care and start feeling better.

We treat a wide range of mental health and behavioral disorders affecting adults, women during life transitions, and young people.

Women's Mental Health

Women face unique mental health challenges related to hormonal changes throughout life. Our psychiatrists understand these specific needs and provide specialized care.

Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum

Perinatal depression includes both prenatal depression (during pregnancy) and postpartum depression (after birth). While postpartum depression is better known, mood disorders during pregnancy are also common—10-20% of women develop some form of mood disorder during pregnancy.

The good news: Perinatal depression treatment has a high success rate, with 80-90% of patients experiencing relief from therapy, medication, or both.

Prenatal Depression

Biological and emotional factors during pregnancy can result in anxiety and depression. When medication is appropriate, we prescribe options that are safe during pregnancy, such as certain SSRIs.

Postpartum Depression (PPD)

Between 10-20% of new mothers experience postpartum depression—feelings of emptiness, exhaustion, worthlessness, loss of control, or even suicidal thoughts lasting more than two weeks after giving birth. Untreated PPD can affect a mother's ability to care for herself and her newborn and increases the risk of major depression later in life.

Mental Health and Menopause

Menopause and perimenopause can be emotionally and physically challenging. Depression is twice as common during this period due to hormonal shifts. Symptoms may include low energy, sadness, sleep disturbances, weight changes, and irritability.

At Next Step Psychiatry, we treat menopause-related mental health issues with psychotherapy and, when necessary, medication to manage symptoms.

Children's and Adolescent Behavioral Health

Mental health conditions in children and adolescents often look different from their adult counterparts. Warning signs parents should watch for include:

• Difficulties with usual activities
• Significant changes in sleeping or eating
• Changes in school performance
• Becoming angry, sad, withdrawn, or disruptive
• Anger, arguing with adults, resentfulness
• Blaming others for their own mistakes

Through psychotherapy and appropriate medication management, we help minimize disruptive behavior and teach healthy coping skills. We also work with parents on behavior management strategies.

ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)

ADHD is the most common behavioral disorder in children and adolescents, more frequently diagnosed in boys. It involves patterns of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that interfere with functioning.

Hallmark symptoms include:

• Inattention and distractibility
• Difficulty focusing and organizing tasks
• Often losing things
• Poor follow-through
• Fidgeting and difficulty sitting still
• Impulsivity—blurting out answers, interrupting
• Difficulty waiting their turn

These issues can persist into adulthood. Early diagnosis and treatment can make a significant difference in outcomes.

Disruptive Behavior Disorders (DBD)

Disruptive behavior disorders include oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), conduct disorder, and intermittent explosive disorder. While most children occasionally act out, DBDs involve more severe and longer-lasting behaviors.

Children with DBDs may respond to authority with indifference or hostility, behave aggressively, have difficulty controlling emotions, and break rules or laws.

Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD)

Characterized by negative behavioral patterns including:

• Overall negative or agitated mood
• Quarrelsome attitude
• Vengefulness
• Frequently displaying anger or resentment
• Purposely disobeying rules
• Easily losing temper

Conduct Disorder (CD)

Involves not only inability to control oneself but also a need to control others:

• Deliberately breaking rules and violating others' rights
• Physical aggression and cruelty
• Bullying and intimidation
• Starting fights
• Stealing or destroying property

What Causes Behavioral Disorders?

The causes aren't fully understood, but risk factors include:

• Hereditary: Parent with mental illness, mood/anxiety disorders, ADHD, or substance abuse
• Psychological: Other mood or behavioral disorders, ADHD, learning disorders
• Physical: Neurological problems, low birth weight
• Environmental: Poor living conditions, abuse, witnessing domestic violence

Early diagnosis and treatment is crucial. Without intervention, behavioral disorders can lead to significant problems in adulthood, including difficulty maintaining careers and relationships.

Conditions We Treat

Our comprehensive psychiatric services include treatment for:

• Major depressive disorder
• Bipolar disorder
• Generalized anxiety disorder
• Panic disorder
• Social anxiety disorder
• PTSD
• OCD
• ADHD
• Perinatal and postpartum mood disorders
• Menopause-related mood disorders
• Disruptive behavior disorders

Getting the Right Care

We care about your well-being above all else. Our team provides detailed clinical recommendations so you can understand the best treatment solutions available for your specific situation.

Ready to take the next step? Contact us today to schedule your evaluation and start your journey toward better mental health.