English speaking Child Psychiatrist in Madrid

Dr. Elena Urbiola Merina

Child Psychiatrist in Madrid for children a adolescent.

Listening

Empathy

Understanding

Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist in Madrid

My name is Elena Urbiola Merina. I am a psychiatrist in Madrid specialized in child and adolescent psychiatry. I studied Medicine at Universidad de Navarra and, from the very beginning, I have been interested in learning about the human mind and the psychic suffering of people. That is the reason why I specialized in Psychiatry.

“Respect and empathy are my values to reassure my patients.”

During my training as a psychiatrist, I discovered that I had a particular interest in learning and treating children and adolescents, along with their families. I discovered my vocation after following some specific programmes at various children and adolescent units in reference hospitals such as Gregorio Marañón and Doce de Octubre teaching hospitals in Madrid. I also had the privilege to receive a scholarship from the Spanish Society of Psychiatry (Sociedad Española de Psiquiatría) to pursue my specialized training at Maudsley Hospital in London, which enjoys international prestige.

Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist

I consider that a child and adolescent psychiatrist must have adequate training as a child psychotherapist. For this reason, I completed the three-year specialization course in Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy at the Spanish Society of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychology (SEPYPNA).

As a child and adolescent psychotherapist, I follow a psychodynamic therapy. However, I try to adopt an integrative focus during the sessions. The integrative approach allows to incorporate skills and tools from other psychotherapeutic trends. This led me to pursue the Mentalization-based Therapy (MBT) courses at Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families in London. I have also completed various training programmes in dialectic behaviour therapy, as well as in cognitive behavioural therapy. I have also undergone training on early intervention (Early Start Denver Model and Incredible Years).

My experience as a Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist

I combine my collaboration at the private clinic menteAmente as a psychiatrist specialized in children and adolescent with my job as a psychiatrist for minors at the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Unit of Gregorio Marañón Hospital. Both for mental health and other specialties, this teaching hospital is a national reference to treat children and adolescents.

My work for the Spanish national health service has given me the opportunity to dedicate special attention to neurodevelopmental disorders (such as the ADHD) emotional problems and major psychotic symptomatology.

“Communication and respect for different points of view are essential.
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Child and adolescent clinical researcher

My interest to put together different approaches to psychotherapy with neurosciences and the psychic mechanisms that activate when there is an illness, have contributed to my participation in various clinical trials with developing drugs. In addition, I have also participated in research projects to implement models in Spain addressed to groups of parents of children with development difficulties (First Steps programme).

How does a Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist work?

I believe the bond with the patient is key to a successful therapy. The bonding process with the patient, particularly in the case of minors, includes their family, especially their parents. Active listening, empathy, understanding and acceptance are necessary during the therapeutic process.

The targets I usually set with my patients and their families address to accompany the patient in their suffering, by understanding them considering the present context and past experiences. Thanks to that, I am able to sustain the minor and their parents’ discomfort, so that together we can discover the potential to be developed inside each individual.