Frequently Asked Questions

 

Why should I be concerned about childhood anxiety? Anxiety disorders affect approximately one in every 10 children and cause significant distress and interference in the lives of the children they affect. Without treatment, anxiety disorders can persist into adolescence and adulthood.  At the Child and Adolescent Anxiety disorders Clinic (CAADC) at Temple University we provide help for children who suffer from these debilitating disorders.
What types of children qualify for treatment? Children ages 7-17 in the Philadelphia area whose main problem is excessive anxiety that interferes with academic or social activity.
How can I tell whether my child is anxious? Children with anxiety typically exhibit at least two of these symptoms:
  • Physical symptoms (headaches, stomachaches, etc.)
  • Avoidance or withdrawal from a variety of situations
  • Self-consciousness, self-criticism, or perfectionism
  • Difficulty attending school or separating from parents
  • Excessive concern about future and past events
What types of treatment do you offer?  Have they been proven to work? We offer various treatment programs that last from 12-16 weeks. These programs may include individual psychotherapy, family psychotherapy, medication, or some combination of these approaches. Our staff is currently conducting research to further evaluate the effectiveness of these approaches.  Results to date have been very promising.
Is there medication involved in treatment? Medication is involved in some but not all of our current treatment options.  Please contact our intake coordinator at (215) 204-7165 for more details.
Can my child participate if he or she is taking medication for anxiety or another mental health condition? We will ask specific questions about current medications your child is taking in order to determine whether our program will suit your child's needs.
How much does this treatment cost? Many of our treatments are currently offered at no cost.  Additionally, some of our treatment options offer monetary compensation.  Please contact our intake coordinator at (215) 204-7165 for details. Your family may qualify for free treatment.
Who conducts therapy at your clinic? Therapy is conducted by advanced doctoral graduate students who are supervised by licensed, Ph.D. psychologists.
What types of information do you require? Depending on the treatment, we may require the completion of the following:
  • An intake interview with child and parent(s)
  • Assessment forms by child, parent(s), and teacher.  We ask that these forms be completed before, during, and after treatment.
  • Mid-treatment assessments
  • A "post-treatment" interview following conclusion of the treatment
  • A "follow-up" interview one year later

This information allows us to evaluate the progress made during the course of treatment. 

How can I reach you with specific questions? If you feel your child could be served by the CAADC and you are in the Philadelphia area, you may contact us with a brief description of your child's presenting problems.  If we think your case is appropriate, we will begin the intake process. If not, we will help you with appropriate referrals that best suit your child's needs.
May I email you general questions about mental health and anxiety? Because we are a local clinic we are unable to respond to general mental health questions over email.  Please refer to the web sites on our links page for information.
Do you offer services outside of Philadelphia? Our services are only available at our clinic in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
What is the history  of your clinic? Professor Philip Kendall first established the CAADC in 1985.  It was one of the first of its kind in the world and has been responsible for cutting edge research in childhood anxiety disorders for the last 15 years.  Currently the CAADC is funded by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) to carry out several research programs assessing treatments for child anxiety.