How pediatric functional medicine works
A clearer process for complex pediatric symptoms.
Here is the path most families follow, from the first 15-minute consult through testing, a personalized plan, and the months of support that come after. We will be honest about what to expect at every stage.
- 01
Free 15-min consult.
A short call to understand what is happening with your child and talk through fit. No payment, no commitment, no high-pressure pitch.
- 02
The intake visit (60-75 minutes).
We take a thorough history: when symptoms started, what has been tried, what helped, what fell short, family medical history, diet, sleep, and environment. We listen and ask different questions.
- 03
Testing.
Based on what we learn, we recommend specific functional medicine testing. This usually includes the GI Map and may include food sensitivity panels, organic acids, mold testing, tick-borne panels, bloodwork, or others. Costs vary by test and ordering route, and expected costs are explained before ordering.
- 04
The plan visit.
Once results are in, we walk through them together. You see the actual data. We explain what it means. We build a personalized plan, typically combining diet changes, targeted supplements, environmental modifications, and lifestyle support. You leave with a clear written plan.
- 05
Ongoing support.
Most families do follow-ups every 4 to 6 weeks during active treatment, with portal messaging in between. We adjust the plan as your child responds. Many see meaningful change in 8 to 12 weeks; complex cases often take longer.
What functional medicine does.
Functional medicine is a clinical framework for identifying underlying drivers of disease and dysfunction: gut microbiome imbalances, food sensitivities, nutrient deficiencies, chronic infection, environmental exposures, methylation issues, and other patterns that can shape symptoms. It treats the body as an integrated system and uses medication thoughtfully when medication is the right tool.
For pediatric patients, that approach is especially powerful: kids are still developing, their systems are unusually responsive to the right interventions, and many chronic conditions we see, including gut dysfunction, eczema, ADHD, and PANS/PANDAS, can be tied to patterns that are rarely evaluated in a standard pediatric visit.
How we use it.
- Medication-aware. We use medications when they are the right tool.
- Long-arc. Most healing takes months.
- Collaborative. We work alongside conventional pediatric care.
- Honest about fit. We will say clearly when another clinician or level of care belongs first.
What it costs.
- Free 15-min consult, no charge
- Initial intake visit (60-75 min), confirmed before booking after the free consult
- Follow-up visits, confirmed before booking
- Healthy Child Wellness Support, consult-first practical support
- GI Reset Mini Package (6-week plan), pricing shared on your free consult
- 4-Month Concierge Package, pricing shared on your free consult
- Lifestyle coaching, visit-based practical support
- Telehealth, available in PA + NY when clinically appropriate
- Membership, lower-touch ongoing guidance after active care
HSA and FSA accepted. We are a cash-pay practice. We provide superbills you can submit to your insurance for potential reimbursement. Lab fees vary by test and ordering route. Expected costs are explained before ordering.
Things parents ask before booking.
What is pediatric functional medicine?
Pediatric functional medicine is a framework for treating chronic conditions in children by looking for the underlying causes, gut microbiome imbalance, food sensitivities, nutrient deficiencies, hidden infection, environmental exposures, methylation issues, and addressing those, rather than just managing symptoms with medication. It works alongside conventional pediatric care, not against it.
Do you take insurance?
No. We are cash-pay. We provide a superbill you can submit to your insurance for potential reimbursement. Most insurance plans cover little to nothing of functional medicine regardless of provider, our fees are transparent up front so you can plan.
How long until we see results?
It varies by condition. Many families see initial change, better bowel movements, less bloating, more energy, fewer flares, in the first 2 to 4 weeks of a plan. Deeper changes (microbiome rebalancing, food sensitivity resolution, eczema healing, PANS/PANDAS recovery) typically take 8 to 12 weeks, and complex cases longer. We are honest about timelines from day one.
How is this different from my pediatrician?
Your pediatrician is trained for acute care, well-child visits, and ruling out the dangerous things, and they do that well. We are trained for the chronic stuff that happens in between. We run different tests (GI Map, food sensitivities, organic acids, mold, tick-borne, bloodwork when appropriate) and spend 60 to 75 minutes on the initial intake when a full workup is needed. We work alongside your pediatrician, not in place of them.
How does telehealth work for kids?
We use a secure video platform, the visit happens at home with you and your child. The intake and follow-up format is the same as in person. Lab kits ship to your home and labs are processed through outpatient locations near you. Most of our PA and NY families do much of their care via telehealth without losing the clinical thread.
What happens at the first visit?
The intake is usually 60 to 75 minutes, depending on your child's age, history, and complexity. We take a thorough history, when symptoms started, what's been tried, what worked, what didn't, family medical history, diet, sleep, environment. We ask questions other providers haven't. We then recommend specific functional medicine testing based on what we hear. You leave with a clear next-step plan and the testing logistics.
Start with a free 15-minute consult.
Tell us what has been going on. Kim will help you understand whether Calm Wellness is the right fit and which care path makes sense for your child.