Understanding Your Child's Care

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​Every child has a different history, set of challenges, and combination of needs. These questions explain Dr. Stephanie Soalt’s approach to naturopathic medicine, evaluation, and expressive therapies, along with what families can expect when working with her.

 

Getting Started

 

What types of concerns does Dr. Soalt work with?

 

Dr. Soalt works with children and adolescents experiencing a range of physical, developmental, behavioral, and emotional challenges. These may include ADHD, autism, anxiety, OCD, depression, emotional dysregulation, sensory concerns, sleep difficulties, and digestive or nutritional issues.

 

When several concerns overlap, it can be difficult to understand how they relate to one another. Dr. Soalt looks at the whole child to identify factors that may be contributing to the difficulties a family is experiencing.

 

Does my child need a formal diagnosis to be seen?

 

A child may have an established diagnosis, be undergoing an evaluation, or have ongoing concerns that have not yet been fully explained. The important starting point is understanding what you are observing, what has already been explored, and what questions remain unanswered.

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What happens during an initial naturopathic evaluation?

 

The initial evaluation involves a detailed review of your child's health history, current symptoms, nutrition, lifestyle, and other relevant factors. Developmental, behavioral, and emotional concerns are also considered.

 

Dr. Soalt takes time to understand what your child is experiencing, what you have already tried, and where important questions remain. The goal is to develop a clearer picture of the factors that may be contributing to your child's challenges and determine appropriate next steps.

 

What if we have already seen several specialists or tried different treatments?

 

Many families seek Dr. Soalt's care after trying multiple approaches without getting the answers they need. Previous evaluations, treatments, laboratory results, and observations can all provide useful information.

 

Rather than starting over or automatically repeating what has already been done, Dr. Soalt considers the available information in the context of your child's full history. This can help identify questions that still need to be explored and areas that may warrant further investigation.

 

Evaluation and Treatment

 

How does naturopathic medicine approach children's health differently?

 

Naturopathic medicine considers how different aspects of health may influence one another. Nutrition, digestive function, sleep, physiological regulation, and other health factors can affect how a child feels, behaves, learns, and functions.

 

Dr. Soalt considers these connections alongside your child's developmental, emotional, and behavioral history. The aim is to understand what may be contributing to the presenting concerns rather than looking at each symptom in isolation.

 

Does every child need laboratory testing?

 

No. Testing is considered in the context of the child's history, symptoms, and individual needs. When appropriate, laboratory testing may help investigate nutritional deficiencies, digestive concerns, or other physiological factors that could be relevant to the child's presentation.

 

Dr. Soalt considers which questions need to be answered before determining whether additional testing may be useful.

 

What might an individualized treatment plan include?

 

Treatment recommendations depend on the child's history, evaluation findings, and specific needs. Depending on the circumstances, a plan may include clinical nutrition, dietary changes, botanical medicine, homeopathy, lifestyle counseling, laboratory testing, or other naturopathic approaches.

 

Not every child needs the same interventions. Recommendations are selected for the individual child rather than applied through a standard protocol.

 

Does Dr. Soalt work alongside my child's other providers?

 

Your child's existing care and treatment history are important parts of the clinical picture. Sharing relevant evaluations, laboratory results, and treatment information can help Dr. Soalt understand what has already been explored.

 

Families should continue working with their child's established medical and developmental providers as appropriate. Any coordination with other professionals depends on the circumstances and available arrangements.

 

ADHD, Autism, and Emotional Challenges

 

Can physical health factors affect behavior, attention, and mood?

 

Yes. Physical and emotional functioning are closely connected. Sleep difficulties, nutritional concerns, digestive problems, and other physiological factors may influence attention, mood, energy, and emotional regulation in some children.

 

This does not mean that every behavioral or emotional concern has a physical cause. It means these factors deserve consideration when evaluating the whole child.

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What if my child has more than one diagnosis or a combination of symptoms?

 

Children do not always fit neatly into one diagnostic category. A child may experience attention difficulties, anxiety, sensory sensitivities, sleep problems, and emotional dysregulation at the same time.

 

Dr. Soalt considers how these concerns may relate to one another, rather than assuming that each needs to be addressed separately. The evaluation and recommendations are shaped by the child's individual presentation.

 

Expressive Therapies

 

What are expressive therapies?

 

Expressive therapies include approaches such as art therapy, play therapy, and sand tray therapy. These approaches give children developmentally appropriate ways to communicate and explore experiences that may be difficult to put into words.

 

Through a child's use of art, play, and symbolic expression, Dr. Soalt can gain a different perspective on how the child experiences the world. This information can deepen understanding of the child's emotional and developmental needs.

 

Does my child need to be artistic or good at expressing feelings?

 

No. Expressive therapies are not about artistic ability or producing a particular result. Children communicate in different ways, and some have difficulty describing what they feel or experience.

 

Art, play, and other forms of expression can provide another way for a child to communicate. The process matters more than the finished product.

 

How do expressive therapies and naturopathic medicine work together?

 

They offer different ways of understanding the same child. Naturopathic evaluation explores physical health, nutrition, lifestyle, and other physiological factors. Expressive therapies provide insight into the child's emotional experience, communication, and way of interpreting the world.

 

Considering both perspectives can help Dr. Soalt build a more complete understanding of the child and inform an individualized approach to care.

 

Practical Information

 

Where does Dr. Soalt see patients?

 

Dr. Soalt's naturopathic practice is located in Connecticut, where she sees children, adolescents, and families in person.

 

Does Dr. Soalt accept insurance?

 

Dr. Soalt is in-network with most major insurance plans, including HUSKY Health (Connecticut Medicaid). Insurance coverage varies by plan and service. Contact the office to discuss your insurance and determine what information is needed before scheduling.

 

What should I bring to the initial appointment?

 

Bring any relevant medical records, previous evaluations, laboratory results, medication and supplement lists, and information about treatments your child has tried. School evaluations or other developmental reports may also be helpful when relevant.

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You do not need to have everything organized perfectly. Your observations about what you see at home, school, and in everyday situations are important, too.

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How do I get started?

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If you are looking for a more complete understanding of your child's health and the factors that may be contributing to their challenges, the first step is to contact Dr. Soalt's office to discuss your concerns and determine whether the practice is an appropriate fit.

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When you're ready to explore a more individualized approach to your child's care, contact Dr. Soalt's office to get started.