Child Colloquium Series

The provision of mental health care is often a collaborative effort, typically between a therapist and a psychiatrist. Unfortunately, there are no rules governing this partnership. How best can these relationships be formed in the absence of established convention? Why do we need to collaborate anyway? Where and when should it begin? Which are the distinct and shared roles of the mental health professionals? What happens when one of the mental health associates loses confidence in the other? What happens when the client, the essential partner, fires one of the mental health collaborators? The purpose of this talk is pro-active marital therapy. We will discuss the state of the art of treatment and how that relates to evidenced-based therapeutics.  We will cover the nature and range of training, experience, and expected role of various players; the nature of a psychiatric evaluation; the role of medication in treating youth with mental disorders, treatment considerations and controversies; the timing and methods of making a referral to a psychiatrist and how to involve other stake-holders.  Communication is the essential ingredient in a successful collaboration.

Ross Andelman MD MFA is a child, adolescent, and adult psychiatrist, former Medical Director of Contra Costa Behavioral Health, now in private practice in Berkeley and Bellingham Washington. Dr. Andelman completed medical school at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, his clinical training at UCLA, and a Research Fellowship at UCSF in Mental Health Services, focusing on Qualify of Life.