Behavioral Health Services at the Sie Center for Down Syndrome

Every person with Down syndrome has a wide range of strengths and faces different challenges. Our behavioral health team excels at building on those strengths and helping children and families overcome challenges. We work closely with families to identify goals and areas of need to improve the quality of life of children and their families.

At the Sie Center for Down Syndrome, we have psychologists, psychiatrists and other experts in supporting the behavioral and mental health needs of children and adolescents with Down syndrome. Our behavioral health team members work closely with other specialists at the Sie Center and across the hospital including education experts, speech and occupational therapists, and social workers. 

How our behavioral health team can help

The behavioral health team at the Sie Center supports a broad range of concerns for children and teens with Down syndrome and their families. Some examples of common challenges our experts address include:

• Behavior difficulties
• Refusals
• Elopement and safety awareness
• Self-injury
• Aggression
• Emotion regulation difficulties
• Mental health concerns such as anxiety or depression
• ADHD
• Toilet training
• Relationships
• Transition to adulthood
• Puberty
• Autism
• Developmental regression
• Sensory concerns
• Behavioral feeding difficulties
• Desensitization to glasses, hearing aids and other medical equipment

Behavioral health services we provide

Based on your child’s needs, we’ll provide care tailored just for them. Our behavioral health care includes:

• Brief consultation for behavioral and mental health concerns during multidisciplinary Sie Center team visits where you’ll see all your providers
• Individual intervention
• Psychiatric medication management
• Group intervention including caregiver-focused coaching such as Fundamentals of Behavior in Down Syndrome
• Evaluations for autism, ADHD, and other developmental, behavioral and mental health concerns
• Cognitive (IQ) and adaptive behavior evaluations

Who we care for

We support any person with Down syndrome who is an established patient in the Sie Center for Down Syndrome. We work with families and patients during in-person visits or via telehealth to ensure each child can thrive.

Why choose us for behavioral health care for Down syndrome

At the Sie Center, your child and family will receive care from psychologists, psychiatrists and other experts who have experience and training in caring for children and young adults with Down syndrome. Our behavioral health services are integrated into the complete care we provide. We also work with experts in our Down Syndrome Behavioral Health Collaborative when appropriate to make sure your child and family have the exact support they need.