At Serene Behavioral Healthcare, we help patients of all ages understand anxiety and manage it with real, evidence-based tools. Anxiety is one of the most common mental health concerns our team treats, and it is also one of the most treatable when a patient gets the right support.
Your Care Team
I am Dr. Lionel Pereira, a Board Certified Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist and the founder of Serene Behavioral Healthcare. Our practice treats anxiety across every stage of life, from young children through adulthood, through a team that includes board-certified nurse practitioners seeing patients in person and via telehealth.
Meet our full team for complete provider bios and credentials.
Conditions We Treat Under the Anxiety Umbrella
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder
- Social Anxiety
- Panic Disorder
- School Avoidance and School-Related Anxiety
- Separation Anxiety
- Specific Phobias
- Anxiety Related to Life Transitions and Stress (Adult Patients)
How We Approach Anxiety Treatment
Every patient’s anxiety looks different, so treatment starts with a thorough evaluation, not a one-size-fits-all plan. Our approach typically includes:
Signs and Symptoms of Anxiety
Anxiety does not always look like worry on the surface. In my practice, I see it show up differently depending on age, which is part of why an accurate evaluation matters so much.
📗 Read our guide on how to recognize the early signs of anxiety
In young children, I often see:
- Frequent stomachaches or headaches with no medical cause
- Clinginess or difficulty separating from a parent
- Trouble sleeping or frequent nightmares
- Meltdowns or irritability that seem out of proportion to the situation
In adolescents, signs include:
- Avoiding school, social events, or specific classes
- Excessive reassurance-seeking or perfectionism
- Trouble concentrating or a drop in academic performance
- Irritability, restlessness, or trouble falling asleep
- Physical symptoms like a racing heart, nausea, or muscle tension during stressful situations
In adults, anxiety often presents as:
- Persistent worry that is hard to control, even when things are going well
- Difficulty concentrating or a sense of being constantly "on edge"
- Sleep disruption, fatigue, or muscle tension
- Avoidance of work tasks, social situations, or responsibilities
- Physical symptoms such as a racing heart, shortness of breath, or GI discomfort, especially during panic episodes
Why Patients Choose Serene Behavioral Healthcare
Patients and families come to us because they want providers who take anxiety seriously and treat it with both clinical rigor and genuine warmth.
Here is what sets our care apart:
- Board certified providers with specialized training across the full age spectrum, from early childhood through adulthood
- A collaborative, patient and family centered approach where you are an informed partner in the treatment plan
- Evidence-based treatment, grounded in current clinical guidelines rather than trends
- Both in-person and telehealth options, so care fits your schedule and location
- A calm, welcoming environment designed to put anxious patients at ease