Empowered Pediatrics

Psychiatric Evaluations and Medication Management for children and adolescents.

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Welcome to Empowered Pediatrics LLC.

Empowered Pediatrics is a primary care extension for pediatric and adolescent behavioral and mental health care. The nation is currently in a mental health crisis due to the increasing rates of mental health disorders and a lack of mental health resources.

Prior to Covid-19, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) data found 1 in 5 children had a mental disorder, but only 20% of those children received care from a mental health provider. Empowered Pediatrics was created to allow for more access to mental health treatment for children and adolescents.

1:1 Sessions | In-Person or Online

In an effort to provide continuity of care to our community during these hard times; Empowered Pediatrics is offering virtual visits.

Experienced Nurse Practitioner

Focused training in behavioral and mental health, and personal experience as a wife and mother.

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Complete care on your schedule

We are here for you and your child, to help your child get back to living and being their very best self.
Experienced Nurse

Years of pediatric experience focused on mental health.

Modern Techniques

Our online platform allows you to schedule visits and track your child's progress online.

Health Care Access

Mental health care access: no waitlist to see a mental health prescriber.

👋 Hi, I'm Jerrica.

Committed to Pediatric Excellence

Jerrica Vaughan, the owner of Empowered Pediatrics, is a graduate from Purdue University (BSN ‘11, MSN, NP ‘16). Jerrica has always had a passion for mental health, and received additional training in behavioral and mental health to become a Pediatric Mental Health Specialist (PMHS).  

Jerrica has years of experience diagnosing and treating behavioral and mental health conditions in children and adolescents. Her extensive training, passion for mental health, as well as personal experience as a wife and mother have prepared her to provide trustworthy and compassionate care for your child. 

Jerrica Vaughan

BSN, RN, CPNP-PC, PMHS

Services Provided

We offer thoughtful and tailored medication management for a wide variety of mental health conditions including:
ADHD
Addiction
Alcohol Abuse
Anger Management
Behavioral Issues
Bipolar Disorder
Chronic Impulsivity
Chronic Relapse
Drug and Substance Abuse
Emotional Disturbance
Grief
Obsessive-Compulsive (OCD)
Oppositional Defiance
Relationship Issues
Self Esteem
Self-Harming
Sexual Abuse
Sleep or Insomnia
Stress
Suicidal Ideation
Trauma and PTSD
​We provide longer visits with our clients to foster a better therapeutic relationship. This relationship allows us to select a treatment plan to suit the needs, goals and lifestyles of our clients. 
Initial Appointment
Your initial appointment will be 60-75 minutes. We will discuss your medical and mental health history, review your symptoms, and come up with an appropriate treatment plan.
Follow-Up Appointment
After your initial appointment, follow-up appointments will be 30-45 minutes. The goal will be to assess your current treatment plan and discuss any changes or adjustments that may be needed. We will also discuss any on-going interpersonal challenges or conflicts that are unique to each client.
Tele-Health Appointment
We are providing services via Telehealth at this time due to the COVID Pandemic.

Let's chat.

We help empower children and their families to work through the tough stuff and grow toward better learning and better lives.

First, let’s get introduced. Fill out the online form and we will reach out shortly.

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(262) 307-1319

Conditions We Treat

Evaluations, treatment and medication management for mental health conditions including:

Depression

Depression, which is also known as major depressive disorder, is one of the most common mental illnesses in the United States.
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Anxiety Disorders

ADAA reports that about 18.1 percent of Americans have some type of anxiety during any given year.
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ADHD

Includes a combination of persistent problems, such as difficulty sustaining attention, hyperactivity and impulsive behavior.
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Mood Disorders

Disorders such as premenstrual dysphoric disorder, disruptive mood dysregulation disorder, and seasonal affective disorder are conditions in which mood interferes with the ability to function.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

OCD is a type of anxiety disorder which causes people to obsess over what others would hardly give second thoughts.

Mental Health Screenings

Mental health screenings are a key part of youth mental health. Approximately 50% of lifetime mental health conditions begin by age 14.

Medication Management

Research-based “best practice” for many disorders such as mood and attention include the use of prescription medication as part of a comprehensive treatment plan.

ADHD Testing

Empowered Pediatrics Offers Cognitive Assessments to Objectively Measure with Creyos Health

In any relevant treatment, it’s common to give areas like memory, attention, reasoning, and verbal ability—a whole suite of cognitive skills crucial for daily life—a thorough look-over. Think of it not as a test, but more like a swift health check for your mind, akin to using a blood pressure cuff, but for your brain’s wellbeing. It’s all about seeing where you stand today.

Try our sample cognitive assessment

Super Convenient: No fuss, no muss with Creyos Health! It’s all online, so you can hop on from your desktop, laptop, or tablet. Forget about hunting down a pen or needing any fancy equipment.

Totally Engaging: Got a couple of minutes? That’s all you need for Creyos Health’s tasks. They’re quick, fun, and far from scary. Plus, with interactive tutorials, you’ll be a pro at the tasks in no time.

Genuinely Useful: Creyos Health lets you really see what’s going on with your brain’s health, tracking how you’re doing over time. It’s a great way to check if your wellness or treatment plans are doing their job, or if there are any changes in your cognition you should know about.

We all have those days when our brains just don’t seem to be in gear—maybe you’re feeling a bit foggy or just not on your A-game. Then there are the days when everything clicks, and you feel unstoppable. Ever wonder just how much sharper you are on those good days? Or if the tweaks you’re making to your lifestyle or health routines are actually paying off? That’s exactly why cognitive assessments are a game-changer.

They give us concrete data on those fuzzy feelings, helping us figure out the secret sauce to those brilliant days so we can have more of them. And when your brain’s firing on all cylinders, everything from remembering where you parked to managing your finances becomes a breeze.

Creyos (formerly Cambridge Brain Sciences) is a leading provider of web-based brain health assessment software for healthcare practitioners (Creyos Health) and researchers (Creyos Research). Our proprietary assessments of brain function and brain health have been developed over the past 25 years, taken over 8 million times and used in over 300 studies published in leading peerreviewed academic journals.

As a result, we maintain and possess one of the world’s largest normative databases of cognitive function. Our tasks are highly engaging, require no expert technical support to administer and are based on the pioneering work of our Chief Scientific Officer, renowned neuroscientist, Dr. Adrian Owen (owenlab.org).

Our providers may recommend Credos depending on presentation of symptoms; however, it may not be appropriate for everyone. It can be used effectively in ages 6 and up.  

If you are not currently a client, we can provide access to the test and then evalulate your results. This can then be shared with your primary care provider. 

The test costs $200 out-of-pocket. After payment, you will receive a voucher code for the test. 

Assessments can vary in length depending on the number of tasks your practitioner has chosen. A four-task assessment will take roughly 15 minutes, while a full 12-task assessment may take approximately 40 minutes. You can view the approximate length of the assessment on the first page of your assessment.

The test results are used to create a report which compares your performance to the performance from other people of the same sex and age, with and without ADHD.

Click here to try a sample cognitive assessment.

How Measuring Cognitive Health Works

  1. First off, your healthcare provider will shoot you an email with a link to the assessment, or they might set up a time for you to come in and do it together.

  2. Before you dive in, there’ll be a brief intro to walk you through what to expect, how to tackle the assessment, and how long it’ll probably take.

  3. Next up is the interactive tutorial for your first task. Don’t worry if you need a few goes at it—the tutorial’s there to make sure you’re totally comfy with what you’re doing.

  4. After you’ve got the hang of the tutorial, it’s showtime! Complete the task, and once you’re done, a report will zip off to your practitioner to check out.

We Love to See You Smile

Call to see if Empowered Pediatrics is the right fit for your child

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Facts About Mental Health

1 in 6 U.S. youth aged 6-17 experience a mental health disorder each year 50% of all lifetime mental illness begins by age 14, and 75% by age 24
nami.org
13.84% of youth (age 12-17) report suffering from at least one major depressive episode (MDE) in the past year. The number of youth experiencing MDE increased by 206,000 from 2020-2021. 59.6% of youth with major depression do not receive any mental health treatment. Over 1 in 3 youth are still not receiving the mental health services they need.
mhanational.org
Youth experienced a unique set of challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic- isolation from peers, adapting to virtual learning, and changes to sleep habits and other routines. 1 in 5 young people report that the pandemic had a significant negative impact on their mental health. Since the pandemic, 3 million adolescents had serious thoughts about suicide. There has been a 31% increase in mental health-related emergency department visits.
nami.org
Suicide- suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death for people ages 10-34. The overall suicide rate has increased by 35% since 1999. 46% of people who die by suicide have a diagnosed mental health condition. 90% of people who die by suicide have experienced symptoms of a mental health condition.
nami.org

Frequently Asked Questions

Don’t see your question? Ask us!

Yes, I accept insurance. I am an in-network provider for the following insurance plans:

  • Care e United/UHC/Optum
  • Cigna/Evernorth
  • Health Partners
  • Tricare East
  • Aetna
  • Quartz
  • Quartz Performance (effective from January 1, 2024)

Please feel free to contact me for more details or to discuss how your insurance plan can cover the services you need.

No referral needed- anyone can call to discuss if Empowered Pediatrics is right for your child. 

If you are covered under insurance and Empowered Pediatrics is an “in-network” provider, we will bill your insurance company through Empowered Pediatrics third party billing company, Med Management. Your insurance policy is a contract between you and your insurance company. We are not a party to that contract. 

If your insurance does not cover Empowered Pediatrics, it is your responsibility to pay for uncovered approved services, co-payments and deductible. Please be aware that the cost of services provided will become your responsibility if covered by part or not at all by your insurance company. In addition, you are responsible for the difference between the amount covered and the amount owed each time you come in for an appointment. All co-pays and deductibles are collected and run monthly after processing of insurance claims

Payment is rendered at the time of the telehealth or in-person visit by credit card, check or cash.

The initial consultation will be with the parent unless the teen is 18 years or older. Telehealth and in-person visits for teens tend to be more productive if the parent gives them privacy during a session.

Strict patient/provider confidentiality is maintained with teens unless the patient is at risk of self harm or hurting another. Safety is always the priority and we work hard to create a safe space for teens. 

Children younger than 14 years must have a parent or guardian consent for outpatient mental health treatment.  If a child is older than 14, the child and the parent or guardian must agree to receiving outpatient mental health treatment. Therefore, parents will be involved in the treatment plan for all children younger than 18 years of age. 

Empowered Pediatrics offers care to all families without discrimination of any kind based on race, color, religion, sex, gender, disability, marital/family status, income or political beliefs. 

Psychiatry is a specialized field of medicine with extensive training in complex mental health cases. More complex diagnoses are best cared for by a Psychiatrist.

My primary training is in pediatric primary care with additional training in pediatric behavioral and mental health. I will be transparent in sharing with you if your child/teen would be better served by a psychiatrist or other professional.

 

How to Find Us

Fill out the form or find our contact information below.
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Phone

(262) 307-1319

Address

W229 N1433 Westwood Drive Suite 104

Waukesha, Wisconsin, 53186

Email

jvaughan@empoweredpediatrics.com

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