How to Find Behavioral or Mental Health Help for Your Child

When you are concerned about your child's behavior or mental or emotional health it is often difficult to know what help is needed and to find it. To identify what your child needs, you need to understand what your options are. You need to clear about what you believe the nature of the problem is or what symptoms your child is experiencing to be sure that the help you find meets the child's needs. Begin by speaking with friends, family members or your child's school counselor or pediatrician. They may have insight into things that you have overlooked or may have a recommendation for you.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Seeking a Referral

1. If your employer offers an Employee Assistance Program you can speak to the person who directs the program. Ask if the program makes referrals for children. You need to be comfortable enough to share private information with this person at work. Withholding information, regardless of the reason, can result in an inappropriate recommendation.

2. Contact your local mental health association or county mental health department. Ask if they make referrals in your area. Getting help for a child is complicated enough; you want someone within a reasonable driving distance.

3. National professional organizations such as the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry or the American Psychiatric Association, as well as local hospitals with psychiatric services, can assist you both in determining the kind of help needed and who can best provide the assistance.

Understanding Differences Among Practitioners

4. Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist: A child and adolescent psychiatrist is a licensed physician. Child and adolescent psychiatrists receive two additional years of training beyond general psychiatry. If they pass the national exam administered by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology they become board certified. Child and adolescent psychiatrists can perform both medical and psychiatric exams. They can provide a full range of treatment for emotional, behavioral and psychiatric disorders. They can prescribe and monitor medication.

5. Psychiatrist: A psychiatrist is a licensed physician. A general psychiatrist has the same training as a child and adolescent psychiatrist without the specialization.

6. Psychologist: Psychologists may have a master's degree in psychology or a doctoral degree in clinical, counseling, educational, developmental or research psychology. Like psychiatrists, psychologists can do psychological evaluations and treatment. Psychologists can also do psychological testing and evaluations. They can not prescribe medication but often work in conjunction with a doctor who can.

7. Social Worker: In most states, social workers must take an exam to become licensed clinical social workers. Most social workers have master's degrees although some may have only a bachelor's degree. Social workers can provide psychotherapy and often have an area of expertise.

Tips & Warnings

• Be sure to interview a therapist before making a selection. See "How to Interview a Therapist".
• In some states, anyone can call himself a therapist. Be sure to check credentials when selecting someone to work with you and your child.