FAQs - Sunflower Pediatric Behavioral Health

Examples of clinical concerns often seen in this office include:

Depression and self-esteem concerns
Anxiety disorders
Habit and tic disorders
Adjustment difficulties (divorce, grief/loss, chronic health issues, life transitions)
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Toileting problems
Sleeping difficulties
Management of pain conditions (migraines, Gl)
Autism spectrum disorders
Social relationship difficulties
Parent-child communication problems
School and learning problems
General parenting and behavioral concerns
Diagnostic evaluations to clarify diagnoses and establish treatment recommendations

The first appointment is an information gathering session and will last approximately 60-90 min. Information about specific concerns you have for your child or adolescent will be discussed. A plan and specific goals for follow-up visits will be reviewed. As needed, we will help you determine if any further psychological assessment/testing would be helpful to gain increased knowledge about your child and plan for care. In some cases initial recommendations may be made during this visit. Typically during the first visit a portion of the session time is spent with the parent alone and a portion with the child/adolescent alone so that families can speak freely and most comfortably with the provider to express their concerns and goals for treatment.

The number of clinic visits varies greatly depending on the nature and severity of concerns presented. In some cases only a few sessions are needed, but in others regular visits may be important for improvement in concerns. We will provide you with a rough estimate of the number of anticipated sessions at the end of the initial appointment. We will work with you as best we can to help determine a plan for care that is reasonable with regard to your financial and time constraints, as well as your goals for services.

Mental health care is a normal and beneficial part of overall health care. There can be significant benefits of psychotherapy for individuals young and old no matter how small the challenges. Learning tools for managing stress, worry, and mood can be an invaluable gift for many kids. Seeking mental health consultation and support could be especially warranted if you observe a change in your child's social, behavioral, emotional, or academic performance that feels significant and is negatively impacting his/her life or your families' functioning. If you have questions about whether or not to schedule, feel free to call or send an email query and we can respond with some helpful guidance.

It is typical for us to meet with you alone, without your child present, for a part of the initial (or subsequent) appointments. Children will play in a nearby room or wait in the waiting room for a portion of the initial visit so that parents can speak candidly to the provider. In some cases when helpful, an entire appointment can be made for parents to meet alone with the provider without child present. This can be discussed with your provider during the initial visit.

It is important to call the number on the back of your insurance card and ask about your out-of-network benefits. See Financial Policies section for specific questions to ask when calling. For some individuals there may be a significant deductible on their mental health benefits for an in-network provider such that the cost to see an in-network provider is comparable to the cost for an out-of-network provider. You can always use health savings or flex accounts to pay for services in this clinic as well.

The ADHD medication shortage continues to impact patients in the Kansas City metro area, most recently with a known shortage of Methylphenidate products. Sunflower Pediatric Behavioral Health providers will work with patients and families to navigate this frustrating interruption of care. Our providers also will discuss alternative medications and treatment options including non-stimulant or dosage changes.

Please do NOT change your medications without discussing with your medical provider.

If your preferred pharmacy does not have the medication prescribed:
- Speak with a pharmacist (not a pharmacy tech) and ask what they recommend. Ask if they can they check inventory at alternative locations or advise on when they may have the desired medication from their distributor.
- Call alternative pharmacies and consider non-chain local pharmacies. Please contact us if you locate your preferred medication at an alternative pharmacy so we can promptly send in a new prescription.
- If you call multiple pharmacies and cannot find the specific preferred medication, then wait a few days and repeat this same process of making multiple phone calls.
Don’t wait until the last minute to request a refill. If you receive a thirty-day supply of medication, then mark your calendar as a reminder to when you should request a new prescription—which is typically twenty-five to twenty-eight days from when the last prescription was filled by the pharmacy (not when it was picked up by you).