Medical Services for Children and Teens

Mental Health Evaluations and Medication Management

Mental health evaluations involve assessing symptoms, thoughts, feelings, and behaviors to diagnose conditions like depression, anxiety, or other mental health disorders. We often conduct these evaluations using clinical interviews, standardized tests, or other assessment tools.

Medication management is a critical aspect of treating mental health issues, focusing on the careful selection, dosing, and monitoring of medications to achieve therapeutic effects while minimizing side effects. This process involves regular follow-ups to adjust treatment plans as needed based on individual responses and changes in condition.

Regular monitoring ensures that medication regimens are effective, safe, and aligned with the patient’s goals, helping to maintain optimal mental health and well-being.

Our Providers

Erica Sloan,
DNP, ARNP, CPNP-PC, PMHS

Providing for Children and Teens in Ames and Johnston

Erica graduated from the University of Iowa College of Nursing with a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree and is a certified pediatric nurse practitioner. During her DNP program, she focused her studies and doctoral work on autism spectrum disorder, specifically aiming to reduce delays in diagnostic evaluations and connecting children to supportive services and therapies. She was honored to be named a Jonas Scholar for this work.

For Erica, it is a privilege to serve children with various neurodevelopmental challenges, including autism. She has earned a speciality certification as a Pediatric Mental Health Specialist. Erica dedicates a significant portion of her practice to evaluations for ADHD, anxiety, and depression, and managing medications to reduce the symptoms of these conditions. She sees children and teenagers from the age of 5 years through 18 years.

Erica is an Ames native, and while her degrees are from a different school, she is a Cyclone at heart. She enjoys attending ISU football and basketball games with her husband and two children.

Trisha Hittenmiller,
MSN, ARNP, FNP-C, PMHNP-BC

Family Nurse Practitioner and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Providing for Children and Teens in Johnston

Trisha is a dual board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner who has been in practice since 2014. She earned her Master of Science in Nursing from Clarkson College and has built a diverse clinical background working in hospital medicine, emergency care, neurotology, and urgent care settings.

Throughout her career, Trish has maintained a strong passion for mental health and its connection to overall physical well-being. She is committed to creating a safe, supportive, and nonjudgmental environment where patients feel heard, respected, and empowered in their care. To further expand her expertise, she completed a post-graduate certificate at the University of Iowa and is dually certified as both an FNP PMHNP by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners.

With her dual certification, Trish integrates holistic health principles, medical management, and psychotherapeutic approaches to provide comprehensive, whole-person care. She treats patients across the lifespan, beginning at age 5, with clinical interests including ADHD, autism spectrum disorders, mood disorders, OCD, anxiety, depression, and eating disorders. She also has a special passion for women’s mental health, particularly perinatal and postpartum care.

Outside of her professional role, Trisha enjoys spending time with her husband and two children. Her interests include outdoor activities, fitness, traveling, reading, cooking, and connecting with family and friends.

Common Questions

We provide evaluations for ADHD, pediatric anxiety disorders, and depression.

We provide medication support to address ADHD, anxiety, and depression, and also support children and their families following an autism diagnosis with associated challenges (for example, sleep difficulties, anxiety, ADHD, behaviors).

Just as medication is helpful for treating high blood pressure, headaches, allergies, or an infection, medication can also be used to help treat mental health conditions. Medications can help you to feel more like yourself and can reduce the burden of your symptoms. Not all mental health medications are long term; some may be taken only as needed or daily for a shorter period of time. Your provider will provide education and prescribe the best medications to treat your condition while working to minimize the potential for side effects.

After you have scheduled your first visit, you will receive an email to access your patient portal account. Your patient portal will have forms for you to review and complete before this appointment. Sometimes your provider will need information from others, for example, from your child’s teacher, but this will be clearly explained. It is important that you take the time to carefully complete these forms so that your provider learns as much as possible about your child’s health and well-being and can plan for your care.

Meeting a new provider can cause anxiety for some. Please be assured that our goal is to help you be your very best. Parents and other caregivers are always welcome at appointments if they choose. Do not hesitate to let us know of any concerns you may have prior to or after your appointments.  

Your first visit with your medical provider may take up to 1.5 hours. During this time, your medical provider will get to know more about you, your health, and your mental health concerns. If you worked to complete evaluations and assessments prior to your appointment, the results of these will be reviewed and diagnoses discussed.  You can expect to receive more education about your mental health and the various treatment options and will be able to ask any questions you may have. We look forward to meeting you!

Yes! We submit claims to your health insurance and any remaining copayment or coinsurance will be billed to you. We are in-network with:

  • Aetna
  • Blue Cross Blue Shield (including Wellmark and Anthem policies – we are not in-network Unity Point HMO Plans)
  • Centivo
  • Cigna
  • Health Partners
  • Medica
  • Midlands Choice
  • United Healthcare
  • United Medical Resources

We encourage you to contact your insurance carrier to verify coverage. If we are not in-network with your insurance company, please contact us. We do offer private pay rates as well. For more information, click here.

Resources

Recommended about Parenting

Books

  • Good Inside, Becky Kennedy, PhD, 2022 

  • No Drama Discipline: The Whole-Brain Way to Calm the Chaos and Nurture Your Child’s Developing Mind, Daniel Siegel, MD and Tina Payne Bryson, PhD, 2016 

  • The Whole-Brain Child: 12 Revolutionary Strategies to Nurture Your Child’s Developing Mind, Daniel Siegel, MD and Tina Payne Bryson, PhD, 2012

  • Raising Good Humans: A Mindful Guide to Breaking the Cycle of Reactive Parenting and Raising Kind, Confident Kids, Hunter Clarke-Fields, MSAE, 2019

  • Raising Mentally Strong Kids: How to Combine the Power of Neuroscience with Love and Logic to Grow Confident, Kind, Responsible, and Resilient Children and Young Adults, Daniel G. Amen, MD and Charles Fay, PhD, 2024

Resources for parents and caregivers raising children impacted by ADHD

Books

  • Thriving with ADHD: A Guide to Naturally Reducing ADHD Symptoms in Your Child, Dana Kay, 2022

  • ADHD 2.0: New Science and Essential Strategies for Thriving with Distraction–from Childhood through Adulthood, Edward M. Hallowell, MDl & John J. Ratey, MD, 2022

  • Driven to Distraction: Recognizing and Coping with Attention Deficit Disorder, Edward M. Hallowell, MDl & John J. Ratey, MD, 2011

  • The ADHD Workbook for Kids: Helping Children Gain Self-Confidence, Social Skills, and Self-Control, Lawrence E Shapiro, PhD, 2010

  • Putting on the Brakes: Understanding and Taking Control of Your ADD or ADHD, Patricia O. Quinn, MD, 2012

  • Learning to Slow Down and Pay Attention: A Book for Kids about ADHD, Kathleen G. Nadeau, PhD and Ellen B. Dixon, PhD, 2004

  • Parenting Children with ADHD: 10 Lessons that Medicine Cannot Teach, Vincent Monastra, PhD, 2014

  • Taking Charge of ADHD, Russell A. Barkley, PhD, 2020

 Podcasts

  • Practical ADHD Strategies

  • ADHD Experts

  • Taking Control: ADHD Podcast

  • Dr. D on ADHD

  • I Have ADHD Podcast

  • The ADHD Homestead

  • Parenting ADHD Podcast

  • ADHD Rewired

  • Attention Talk Radio

  • ADHD Essentials

  • Good Inside with Dr. Becky Kennedy (not specific to ADHD support, but helpful with talking to our children and helping them to work through challenges)

 Websites

A list of resources that may be helpful if you have concerns about your child’s learning