7: Medication, ADHD, and Mental Health Support for Kids with Rachel Jones and Kristen McNeely

Medication, ADHD, and Mental Health Support for Kids with Rachel Jones and Kristen McNeely

Robyn talks with psychiatric nurse practitioner Rachel Jones and Kristen McNeely about ADHD, medication, mental health treatment, and how parents can make informed decisions about supporting their children.

In this episode, I’m joined by Rachel Jones, psychiatric nurse practitioner, along with returning guest Kristen McNeely, for a thoughtful conversation about one of the most common and often emotional topics parents face: medication and mental health treatment for children. We talk about the questions, fears, and misconceptions that often come up when a child is struggling with anxiety, ADHD, or other mental health challenges.

Rachel shares her approach to pediatric psychiatry and explains why thorough assessment is such an important part of the process. We discuss the role psychiatric nurse practitioners play in evaluating children, collaborating with therapists, and helping families understand both the risks and benefits of treatment options. One of the themes that comes up repeatedly is the importance of looking at the whole child rather than focusing on a diagnosis alone.

We also spend time talking about medication. Many parents worry that medication will change their child’s personality or become a permanent solution. Rachel offers a different perspective, describing medication as a tool that can help children access the skills they are already working to build. We explore how treatment decisions should be individualized and why open communication between providers, parents, and children is essential throughout the process.

Another important part of the conversation focuses on ADHD. Rachel discusses the challenges surrounding diagnosis, the importance of comprehensive evaluations, and how factors like sleep, anxiety, environment, and technology use can sometimes complicate the picture. We talk about why quick diagnoses can be problematic and why ongoing assessment matters just as much as the initial evaluation.

By the end of this episode, I hope parents feel more informed and empowered to ask questions, seek comprehensive evaluations, and make decisions that align with their child’s unique needs. Mental health treatment is rarely one-size-fits-all, and this conversation offers a balanced, thoughtful look at how families can navigate these decisions with confidence.

Shared Resources: 

• Rachel Jones’s Website and Psych NP Network
• Follow Rachel on Instagram @psychnpbestie
• Check out Rachel’s intensive course Pediatric Psych Intensive
• Kristen McNeely’s Website
• Follow Kristen on Instagram @childhood.empowered
• Follow Robyn on Instagram @parentingtheanxiouschild 
• Parenting the Anxious Child Membership
• Sign up for Robyn’s Newsletter and find additional resources