Thorough evaluations for kids and teens, by someone trained to do them.
Children aren't small adults. The way anxiety, ADHD, depression, or autism show up at 7 or 15 is different, and so is the evaluation. Dr. Shaikh is fellowship-trained in child and adolescent psychiatry and has spent his career in children's hospitals and adolescent programs.
Fellowship-trained care for kids and teens
Dr. Khurram Shaikh completed his child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship at Children's Hospital Boston, Harvard Medical School. He went on to run outpatient child and adolescent clinics for Texas Children's Hospital and Harris Health as Baylor College of Medicine faculty, led the adolescent program at The Menninger Clinic, and directed the adolescent unit at Woodland Springs Hospital and child and adolescent psychiatry at Nexus Children's Hospital. That depth matters when the question is whether a child's struggle is a phase, a learning difference, anxiety, ADHD, or something else.
What we see in children and teens
- ADHD and trouble with focus, impulsivity, or behavior at school
- Anxiety, including school refusal, separation anxiety, and panic
- Depression, irritability, withdrawal, and self-harm
- Autism spectrum disorder and co-occurring conditions
- Mood disorders, including early bipolar disorder
- Trauma and adjustment after loss, divorce, or a frightening event
- Sleep problems, learning differences, and behavior that doesn't respond to the usual parenting advice
How an evaluation works
We start by listening to you and to your child. The evaluation draws on developmental and family history, standardized rating scales from parents and teachers, school records and prior testing, and a careful look at sleep, medical issues, and stress at home. We rule out conditions that can look alike before settling on a diagnosis, and we explain our thinking in plain language.
How we treat
Treatment plans for kids and teens usually combine several things: behavioral strategies and parent guidance, school accommodations, therapy with a counselor who works well with young people, and medication when it's clearly helpful. We coordinate with pediatricians, therapists, and schools so the plan holds together outside our office, and we adjust as your child grows.
Common questions
What ages do you see?
Dr. Shaikh sees children of all ages, teens, and adults. Sharina Robinson, our psychiatric nurse practitioner, sees patients age 6 and up. When you call, we'll match your child with the right clinician.
Does a parent need to come to the appointment?
Yes. A parent or legal guardian attends every visit for patients under 18. For teens, part of the visit is usually one-on-one so they can speak freely, and we talk together about what's shared, with safety always the exception.
How is a child's evaluation different from an adult's?
It draws on more sources. We talk with you and your child, send standardized rating scales to teachers when relevant, review school records and any prior testing, and look at development, sleep, family history, and stressors at home or school. The first visit usually takes 45 to 60 minutes.
Are psychiatric medications safe for children?
Used carefully, yes. Many medications for ADHD, anxiety, and depression have decades of research in children and teens. We use medication when it's clearly needed, start low, follow up closely, and often pair it with behavioral strategies, school supports, or therapy. Parents are part of every decision.
Can you help with school accommodations?
Yes. When a diagnosis affects learning or behavior at school, we can provide documentation to support a 504 plan or IEP evaluation and, with your permission, communicate with school counselors and teachers.
My teen doesn't want to come. What do I do?
This is common. It often helps to frame the first visit as a conversation, not a commitment, and to let your teen know they'll have time to talk privately. Call us and we'll talk through how to make the first step easier.