Psychiatry

We offer outpatient psychiatric services to children, adolescents, and adults through our Frederic office.  Patients must be referred by their primary care physician.  To schedule an appointment, please call 866-727-5805.  Please visit our staff bio page to learn more about our Psychiatrist, Dr. Himanshu Agrawal. 

 

 

Psychological and Neuropsychological Evaluations

We offer outpatient psychological and neuropsychological evaluations through our Frederic office.  To complete a check of your insurance or Medical Assistance benefits and discuss scheduling an evaluation, please call 715-327-4402. 

 

 

Northwest Directions

Northwest Directions provides therapeutic outreach to meet children and families in the community and provide preventative, comprehensive, quality mental health services.

 

Goals of the program:

·        Meet children and families where they are, by providing services in office settings, schools, or homes whenever possible.

·        Create opportunities for community outreach, aftercare services, and services to prevent further mental health problems.

·        Develop partnerships that enhance the provision of mental health services to children and families.

·        Improve access to mental health services for children and families.

·        Improve the mental health of children and families within the community.

 

Qualifications and Certification

Northwest Directions is a certified outpatient mental health program in accordance with Wisconsin DHS 35.

 

 Our Treatment Approach

We draw on the strengths and coping skills children and families bring to the treatment process to help facilitate change and develop healthy skills and relationships, which result in a more productive and satisfying life experience. 

 

With children, behaviors are a method of communication.  Because many of the children we see don’t have the ability to verbalize and process effectively, they often use behaviors as a means of communicating their needs or to cope with their experiences and views of the world.  We must listen to the client, seek to understand their behaviors, validate their needs and address the behaviors.  This process is critical in order to promote comprehensive understanding of the client and his/her needs and a fully attentive treatment process that meets the client where they are.  To ignore a child’s behavior is to ignore the child.

 

Our clinical analysis looks at a child’s chronological age and development, intellectual age and development, and emotional age and development.    A child’s individual experiences, personal characteristics, learning styles, intellectual abilities, maturity, etc. all influence the child and his/her needs and development.  We understand the complexities of child development and tailor our treatment accordingly.

 

We use our clinical knowledge and experience to examine the client’s history and current status to determine a comprehensive, individualized, clinical, evidence-based approach that addresses the needs of the child and his/her family. 

 

Early Intervention

Because mental health problems impede the development process, we recommend early intervention.  The longer we wait to address mental health needs, the more potential for delayed development.

 

Coordination of Care

NWD works collaboratively with county human services and school systems to provide outpatient mental health services that meet people in the community.  As appropriate, NWD will coordinate mental health services with other providers.  NWD will create collaborative relationships with schools by sharing resources and providing services within schools as appropriate.

 

Consider Northwest Directions Outpatient Services when:

Ø  A child or adolescent is experiencing mild to moderate mental health symptoms as evidenced by:

• Intermittent school absence or school avoidance

• A decrease in academic functioning and/or performance

• Isolating behaviors

• Difficulty concentrating or staying alert

• Appearing irritable

• Change in sleep and/or eating habits

• Increase in challenging behaviors

• Engaging in self harm activities

• Change in mood and/or affect

• Difficulty establishing and maintaining peer relationships

• Loss of interest in hobbies/activities

Ø  A significant stressor has occurred in the child or adolescent’s life such as a loss, divorce, familial discord, or any emotional turmoil within the child or adolescent’s primary support group.

Ø  A child is transitioning from a day treatment setting, residential placement, inpatient hospitalization, and/or out of home placement back into his/her natural environment and/or supports.

Ø  Parents express concern about their child’s behavior and/or emotional functioning in the home.

Ø  A teacher(s) indicates concern about a student’s behavior and/or emotional functioning in school. 

 

Funding

Third party payers (Private Insurance or Medical Assistance)

Our business department will work with referring parties and families to determine and develop coverage plans.

 

Making a Referral

Northwest Directions accepts referrals from parents, social service personnel, community service providers (therapists, psychiatrists), and schools.

 

For additional referral or admissions information please contact a Northwest Directions program directly.  This direct contact also offers you an opportunity to learn more about our agency and our services.