Psychiatric Care for Children
We provide psychiatric care for children starting at age 5. Evaluating and treating children requires a different approach than adults. Developmental context, family involvement, and age-appropriate assessment tools all play a role in how we understand your child and build a treatment plan that fits.
How Care Is Tailored for Children
Tailored intake and assessments
The intake process for children includes developmental history, pregnancy and birth history, school history, and behavioral observations. Assessment tools are age-appropriate and validated for children. What we gather before the visit helps us use evaluation time effectively, and what we observe during the visit adds clinical context that questionnaires alone cannot capture.
Parent or guardian and child present at every visit
Your child must be present for all visits, including the initial evaluation and every follow-up. A parent or guardian must also be present. Your input is essential to understanding your child's history, behavior, and how they function across different settings. The evaluation includes both your perspective and direct interaction with your child, and follow-up visits continue to involve both parent and child so the provider can observe progress firsthand.
Family psychoeducation
We educate the whole family, not just the child. Understanding the diagnosis, what to expect from treatment, and how to support your child at home is a core part of care. When parents understand what is happening clinically, they are better equipped to reinforce progress between visits.
Collateral information
With your consent, we may gather information from teachers, school counselors, or other providers involved in your child's care. A complete clinical picture often depends on understanding how your child functions in settings beyond home.
School coordination
When relevant, we communicate with schools to support your child's needs in the educational setting. This may include documentation for accommodations or coordination with school-based professionals.
Medication considerations
Medication prescribing for children requires careful consideration of dosing, developmental factors, and monitoring. Medication is only recommended when clinically appropriate, and it is always part of a broader plan that includes psychoeducation, lifestyle strategies, and family involvement. We discuss options with you thoroughly before any prescriptions.
Conditions We Commonly Treat
ADHD
Difficulty sustaining attention, controlling impulses, and regulating activity levels in daily life.
Learn moreAnxiety
Excessive, persistent worry that interferes with daily activities, relationships, and physical well-being.
Learn moreOCD
Recurring unwanted thoughts and repetitive behaviors that feel impossible to stop, disrupting daily life.
Learn moreDepression
A persistent mood disorder that goes beyond ordinary sadness, affecting energy, concentration, and daily functioning.
Learn moreEach condition page explains how we evaluate and treat that condition across all age groups. Your child's provider tailors the approach based on developmental stage and individual needs.
Our Care Model
The same care model applies to children as to all of our patients: a standardized, evidence-based evaluation process, providers trained and supervised by the psychiatrist, and psychiatrist review of all new patient treatment plans. The process is tailored for your child's age and developmental stage, but the quality framework is the same.
Learn more about our approach →Common Questions
We provide psychiatric care for children starting at age 5.
Yes. The evaluation includes both parent or guardian input and direct interaction with your child. Both perspectives are essential for an accurate assessment.
Yes. Your child must be present for every visit, not just the initial evaluation. Follow-up visits include direct interaction with your child so the provider can observe progress, assess response to treatment, and make informed adjustments to the care plan.
Only if it is clinically appropriate. Medication is one part of the treatment plan, and for children, we are especially careful about when and how it is used. We discuss options with you thoroughly before any prescriptions.
Yes, with your consent. We can coordinate with teachers and school counselors to support your child's needs.
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The first step is a request form. We will guide you and your family through the process from there.