Anxiety
Care for persistent worries, panic symptoms, school avoidance, perfectionism, social or separation anxiety, and anxiety that disrupts sleep, relationships, development, or everyday life.
Child, adolescent & young adult psychiatry
Thoughtful care for growing minds.
Specialized evaluation and treatment for anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, mind-body symptoms, and related emotional and developmental concerns.
Care is individualized, collaborative, evidence-based, and attentive to the connection between emotional and physical well-being.
Board-certifiedDevelopmentally informedFamily-centered
Careful listening.
Clear thinking.
Collaborative next steps.
Meet Dr. Rajalakshmi
Warm, rigorous care grounded in development.
Dr. Aarya Krishnan Rajalakshmi is a board-certified child and adolescent psychiatrist with experience caring for children, adolescents, young adults, and families.
She is a member of the Harvard Medical School faculty and previously served on the faculty at Johns Hopkins. Her clinical interests include pediatric obsessive-compulsive disorder, anxiety disorders, mind-body medicine, emotional regulation, depression, neurodevelopmental conditions, and the ways physical symptoms, stress, development, and family context interact.
Her approach combines careful psychiatric assessment, evidence-based medication treatment when appropriate, collaboration with families and therapists, and attention to each young person’s developmental strengths and individual experience.
Areas of focus
Specialized care, thoughtfully connected.
The primary focus is anxiety, pediatric OCD, and the relationship between emotional and physical health.
Pediatric OCD
Careful recognition of intrusive thoughts, compulsions, reassurance seeking, avoidance, rigidity, and family accommodation—with collaboration alongside therapists providing exposure and response prevention when appropriate.
Mind-body medicine
Thoughtful attention to how stress, the nervous system, sleep, development, and medical experiences can interact with real physical symptoms such as headaches, nausea, dizziness, fatigue, and functional symptoms.
Emotional & mood concerns
Support for depression, irritability, emotional dysregulation, and adjustment difficulties related to school, relationships, family transitions, or developmental change.
Neurodevelopmental differences
Assessment and care for ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, executive-function challenges, sensory differences, social-communication needs, sleep concerns, and school difficulties.
Mind-body care
Understanding the connection between emotional and physical health.
Stress, anxiety, sleep, the autonomic nervous system, medical experiences, and developmental factors can influence how physical symptoms are experienced and maintained.
A mind-body approach does not dismiss physical symptoms. It considers the whole clinical picture and helps identify practical, evidence-based ways to improve functioning and well-being.
Treatment approach
A Thoughtful and Collaborative Approach
Treatment is shaped not only by symptoms, but also by the young person’s developmental stage, strengths, relationships, physical health, and daily environment.
Careful evaluation
A thorough assessment considers symptoms, treatment history, development, physical health, strengths, and context.
Shared understanding
Both the young person’s and family’s perspectives are heard, with private time included when developmentally appropriate.
Evidence-based planning
Psychotherapy, behavioral supports, school and family considerations, and medication when clinically appropriate are weighed together.
Connected care
With authorization, care may be coordinated with therapists, pediatricians, schools, and other specialists.
What to expect
A clear path from first inquiry to follow-up.
Each step is designed to build a careful, shared understanding before treatment decisions are made.
Before the visit
Complete secure intake forms and share available medication history, treatment records, and school or neuropsychological reports when relevant.
Initial evaluation
Generally completed over two to three appointments, each scheduled and billed separately. Patient and family perspectives are considered, with private time when appropriate.
Treatment planning
Review diagnostic impressions and discuss psychotherapy, medication, behavioral, school, family, and medical considerations together.
Follow-up
Visit frequency reflects clinical need, with closer monitoring during medication changes and less frequent appointments when stable.
Common questions
Questions are welcome.
Here are a few answers that may help you decide whether to inquire.
Who does Dr. Rajalakshmi work with?+
Children, adolescents, young adults, and their families, with care tailored to the person’s developmental stage and individual needs.
Does treatment always involve medication?+
No. Medication is not automatic. It may be considered when potential benefits justify the risks and burden, often alongside psychotherapy and other supports.
Can parents participate in appointments?+
Yes. Family perspectives are an important part of child and adolescent care. The structure of visits is adapted to age, development, and clinical needs.
Do you coordinate with therapists, schools, or pediatricians?+
Yes, when clinically helpful and with appropriate authorization. Collaboration can help create a more complete and consistent plan.
How is obsessive-compulsive disorder treated?+
Treatment is individualized and may include collaboration with a therapist providing exposure and response prevention. Medication can be considered when appropriate; it does not replace psychotherapy.
What does mind-body medicine mean?+
It means considering how emotional health, the nervous system, sleep, physical health, development, and lived experience interact. Physical symptoms are real and deserve careful evaluation.
Are appointments available by telehealth?+
Telehealth availability and geographic eligibility will be confirmed before scheduling.
Is the practice in network with insurance?+
Out-of-network and self-pay information will be discussed before scheduling.
How is urgent or emergency care handled?+
This practice website is not an emergency service. For urgent safety concerns, call 911, go to the nearest emergency department, or call or text 988.
Begin a conversation
Inquire about care.
If you are interested in scheduling an initial consultation, please reach out using the practice contact information below.
Please do not include detailed clinical or emergency information in an initial inquiry.
EmailContact details coming soon
Phone617-334-5660
Service areaGeographic service area coming soon