Learn More About Child Psychiatrists with Dr. Annemarie Loth, MD
As anxiety and anger management specialists, we provide counseling for kids, teens, and college students. We work with itty-bitties in pre-school to young adults graduating college, because we know anxiety can impact all of us, at all of these different ages. And we also know that some clients really benefit from the additional support of a child psychiatrist. So we asked Dr. Annemarie Loth, with Partners in Wellness, some of our top questions about what that can look like.
Dr. Annemarie Loth, MD
Why did you choose to become a child psychiatrist in St. Louis, MO?
Children are such amazing human beings and I have always loved working with and learning from children. In medical school, I realized I loved to hear the stories of my patients and wanted to improve their mental health putting me on a course to pursue a career in psychiatry. I trained in Indiana for residency but had completed medical school in Saint Louis so when my husband got a job in St. Louis we decided to come back.
What happens during the first psychiatric appointment with you?
When a family comes to meet with me for the first time, we all meet together. I direct almost all of my questions to the child and have parents fill in the gaps. I will touch on all aspects of mental health even if some symptoms may not be the primary concern because I do not want to miss something. We will talk about their physical health history, educational history, their developmental history, and family history. I also like to understand what treatments they have already tried and what did or did not work and why. At the end, I talk to them about what I think is going on and will provide different treatment options to the child and parents that we will all agree on.
My goal for the first session is to make sure that the child feels comfortable.
I want them to feel validated and most importantly, I want the child and the parents to feel that I have listened to and heard their concerns. I also want the child and parents to feel that we are partners.
When do you recommend using medication to help with anxiety, depression, ADHD, eating disorders, or other mental health disorders?
This is a great question because sometimes, medication is not the first line treatment for some mental health concerns in children and sometimes it is. First, my decisions are informed by the scientific literature. Specifically, I want to make sure that any intervention I am recommending is supported by research. Then, I also look at how impairing the symptoms are to the individual's level of functioning. Finally, I take into account how the patient has progressed with non-pharmacological interventions. If minimal progress has been made, the patient is still struggling, and there is scientific evidence to start a medication, then I would initiate a medication trial in these instances.
Do you recommend going to counseling and why?
YES!! The literature supports therapy in almost all mental health disorders in children. At times, it can be just as effective as medication and often, when medication and therapy are combined, the child will have better outcomes.
Could you talk a little about your approach and how it plays into your work with people recovering from anxiety?
When I assess someone for anxiety, I want to make sure that I screen for all anxiety disorders as it is much more common to have more than one anxiety disorder. I then ask if they have received any therapy, specifically cognitive behavioral therapy or CBT, and what their experience was. If they have not engaged in a course of CBT, I tell the family that this is necessary when treating anxiety disorders. If the anxiety is causing physical symptoms, poor sleep, or avoidance, then we discuss starting a medication. I also like to give tools to the child to help fight their anxiety and discuss with parents how to validate their child's anxiety without enabling it. As the patient's anxiety improves, we discuss if medications are still necessary and talk about tapering them off.
What do you wish people knew about getting psychiatric treatment for anxiety and other mental health disorders?
I wish people knew that there are good treatments for mental health conditions and they do not have to suffer. I also wish that they understood that they should not be ashamed for having anxiety, ADHD, depression or any other condition. I would like parents to know that sometimes medications are necessary to treat mental health conditions, but this does not mean that a child will be taking that medication for the rest of their life.
What ages do you work with?
I will work with 3 y/o up to 19 y/o.
What can parents expect to leave with after working with you?
I hope they leave feeling like we are partners in looking out for health of their child. I hope that they feel that they were able to gain tools and knowledge to help their son or daughter. I hope they also leave realizing that I truly care for their child.
How long have you been working as a psychiatrist, and how long have you been in St. Louis?
I have been working as a child and adolescent psychiatrist in St. Louis since 2012.
Who are your favorite types of clients to work with?
That's tough. Clinically, I like to work with children who have anxiety disorders, depression, eating disorders and ADHD. I just like to work with all kids and adolescents. They are so unique and fun to work with and I love hearing about all the amazing things they are doing.
How can people learn more and contact you?
They can check out my bio at www.partnersinwellnessstl.com or they can call the office directly at 314-736-5446 ext 105.
Share one fun fact about you that most people don’t know.
I have a HUGE sweet tooth!
Parents can find great information and support on:
Curious to hear more about anger and anxiety counseling for kids? Compassionate Counseling St. Louis provides specialized therapy for kids, teens, and college students. We work in Clayton, MO and serve kids, teens, and college students throughout St. Louis City, St. Louis County, Ladue, University City, Town and Country, Webster Groves, Creve Coeur, Kirkwood, Richmond Heights, and Brentwood. You can set up your free phone screening to see if we’re a good fit for your needs right on our website.