Primary Care Opens Doors to Behavioral Health at Wellstar

Children and teens face challenges that can bring excitement, stress and sometimes anxiety. A new school year, changing friendships and academic pressures can feel overwhelming.

Some stress is a normal part of growing up. In fact, it helps kids develop resilience and prepare for new experiences. When worry begins affecting a child's ability to learn, sleep, socialize or enjoy activities, they may need additional support.

The good news is that parents can play an important role in helping kids recognize their feelings and build healthy coping skills.

1. Listen & validate feelings

When children express fears or worries, parents often want to make them feel better. While encouragement is good, listening first and validating can help children feel understood.

Try asking open-ended questions about what's causing stress and acknowledge their feelings without judgment. A simple response such as, “I can see why that would make you nervous,” can go a long way toward helping your child feel supported.

Parents can also talk through upcoming situations and set expectations with their child. When it's time to start something new, knowing what to expect can reduce uncertainty. Having these conversations can also reveal whether a child is experiencing typical stress or something more persistent.

2. Recognize the signs of anxiety

Some children talk openly about feelings. For others, it shows up differently.

“Anxiety doesn't always look like worry," said Dr. Shital Gaitonde, Wellstar Children’s of Georgia clinical child and adolescent psychologist. "Sometimes it shows up physically through headaches or stomachaches.”

She said other children may have trouble sleeping or seem more emotional than usual: “You may also notice more worrying, clinginess or difficulty separating from parents.”

Signs of anxiety in children include:

• Worrying
• Frequent headaches or stomachaches
• Changes in appetite
• Difficulty sleeping
• Irritability or emotional outbursts
• Difficulty concentrating
• Avoiding school or activities
• Worsening school performance
• Repeatedly seeking reassurance
• Clinginess to parents

“It's normal to have stress; it's not normal to have anxiety,” said  Wellstar Children’s of Georgia Pediatrician Dr.  Andrew Doyle. "Understandably you get nervous with new situations that make you uncomfortable, but you're still able to do it and have fun. Significant anxiety starts to interfere with a child’s or teen's ability to do what they need to do—homework, school, social situations. That's when it's helpful to get it checked out.”

3. Create routines that build confidence

Children often feel more secure when they know what to expect. Consistent routines can be especially important during transitions.
“One of the best things parents can do is start talking about school before the first day," Dr. Gaitonde said. “A little reassurance now can help make the transition back to school easier.”

Parents can support children by:

• Establishing consistent bedtimes and wake-up times
• Talking through what the day will bring
• Visiting a new environment when possible
• Checking in regularly about friendships and academics
• Building downtime into busy schedules
• Encouraging independence in age-appropriate ways

Avoiding stressful situations may provide temporary relief, but it can make anxiety stronger over time.

Dr. Kayla Fitch, a behavioral health specialist works alongside pediatricians at Wellstar Children's of Georgia pediatricians.

“One of the things I'm the most passionate about is early anxiety treatment for kids. We can help kids when they're 4, 5, 6 years old,” she said. “I teach parents basic concepts around how to expose their children to anxiety-producing situations to decrease their anxiety.”

With guidance and support, children can learn to face challenging situations gradually, developing confidence and resilience over time.

The main role of a primary care clinician is to keep you healthy at every age and stage of life. To keep you feeling your best, these experts are trained to:

• Get to know and understand your unique health needs. Your primary care team can keep you on track with your individual wellness goals, whether you are planning to start a family, need help managing a chronic illness or want to maintain a healthy weight.
• Coordinate care and provide referrals for specialists. Your primary care team can quickly and seamlessly get you in touch with the robust network of medical experts, such as cardiologists, oncologists, neurologists and more at Wellstar.
• Keep you up-to-date on immunizations and vaccinations. You can build up your body’s immunity to common diseases and protect your health with the latest vaccines, all ordered by your primary care clinician.
• Order appropriate health screenings, diagnostic tests and follow-up care. If your wellness check-up reveals certain risk factors, chronic conditions or new diagnoses, your primary care clinician can help you get the right treatment fast.
• Treat you for acute illnesses, such as colds or the flu. When you feel under the weather, your established primary care clinician can often get you an appointment sooner so you can feel better.

Learn more about primary care at Wellstar.

For many families, care teams are a consistent part of a child’s life—supporting them from early childhood through adolescence. But as teens step into adulthood, one important transition can be easy to miss: moving from a pediatrician to an adult primary care provider.

This “handoff” is more than a change in doctors. It’s a key step in helping teens take ownership of their health and build habits that last a lifetime.

Timing the transition

“The transition usually happens between ages 17 and 19,” said Dr. Nicole Carter, a Wellstar Children’s of Georgia pediatrician. “The decision is primarily influenced by the teen and their family. Some young adults choose to move to an adult primary care provider sooner because they feel uncomfortable being in a setting with younger children.”

As one of Georgia’s largest and most integrated health systems, Wellstar offers an expansive network of primary care providers across the state—making it easier for families to find a convenient location and continue care as their needs change.

Why does this transition matter? For young adults navigating a new stage of life, healthcare can quickly fall down the priority list—especially when they feel healthy. Staying connected to care is essential.

“It's important to continue to emphasize preventive healthcare and yearly well checks,” Dr. Carter said. “Young adults also need a primary care physician they can turn to with questions about their mental and physical health.”

Gaining independence

One of the biggest adjustments during this handoff is who takes the lead.

“In adult care, the physician speaks directly to their patient. A parent can still be present or involved, but the young adult becomes the primary decision-maker,” Dr. Carter said.

That shift doesn’t happen overnight. Preparing early helps teens feel more confident managing their health, including having time alone with their provider to ask questions and speak openly.

Families can support their teen’s independence by creating space for honest conversations at home too.

“Important discussions include topics like sexuality and vaccines. It’s essential that teens and young adults are aware of their options,” said Dr. Carter.

As teens begin to play a more active role, parents and caregivers naturally step back.

“Caregivers should start allowing teens to answer questions asked by their provider and take the lead in any discussions, only filling in information when needed,” Dr. Carter said.

Avoiding gaps in care

Without a clear plan, it’s easy for care to fall through the cracks during this transition, especially around milestones like graduation.

“Before transitioning care, make sure any medications are refilled for three to six months and schedule a new patient appointment with an adult provider as soon as possible,” Dr. Carter said.

Establishing care early helps ensure there’s no disruption and gives teens a provider they can rely on as their needs evolve.

Building habits for life

The move to adult primary care is also a chance to reinforce habits that support long-term health.

With guidance from care teams and support from parents and caregivers, teens can stay on top of annual checkups, ask questions and take an active role in their care. Families can also help by building everyday skills, from understanding medical history to managing prescriptions.

Staying within a connected system like Wellstar can help simplify that process—making it easier to schedule appointments, access records and keep care on track as young adults take on more responsibility.

These early habits make a lasting difference. Together, we can help young adults move into their next phase with confidence and a stronger sense of ownership over their health.

Learn more about transitioning to adult primary care or find a provider near you.