Children are brought in for treatment for many reasons.  The most common of which are the following: School difficulties including academic underachievement and/or disciplinary problems Emotional difficulties including depression, anxiety and anger Behavioral difficulties including disobeying rules, illegal behavior, substance involvement and/or aggression or violence towards others  Other difficulties – social difficulties, low self-esteem, poor […]

The information in this section is taken from non-copyrighted material on the Mental Health Institute Web Page. While medication rarely should be the only strategy used, in some cases it may be a key component to effective treatment. If your child’s treatment provider believes that your child could benefit from medication, he/she will refer you […]

Regardless of the treatment provider you choose or the level of care to be provided, effective treatment should begin with a comprehensive initial assessment/evaluation of your child’s difficulties and related treatment needs. The length of time it takes for an initial assessment varies from 2-5 hours (conducted over 1-5 sessions), depending on the treatment provider’s […]

A Quick Review Of Inpatient Treatment Options Your child stays overnight in the hospital or treatment facility. Emergency Hospitalization: Provided by a public or private hospital. Approximate length of stay may be from 2-10 days. Usually occurs following a psychiatric or substance abuse emergency during which an individual is at risk for harming oneself or […]

If your child is experiencing a psychiatric emergency (danger to self and/or others, experiencing delusions, hallucinations, disorganized thoughts and/or exhibiting unusual behaviors) take your child to your local hospital emergency room immediately. If your child is already under the care of a treatment provider, you may want to call the treatment provider first and ask […]

If your child is experiencing a psychiatric emergency and refuses to go for help, see section 7 of this handbook.  If your child is experiencing mild-moderate emotional difficulties (sadness, anxiety, shyness, social or academic difficulties) but can still meet his/her responsibilities, and refuses to attend treatment, do not try to force him/her to attend. Your […]

If Your Child Is Asking For Help — Motivated To Attend: Give your child as much information as possible regarding the treatment providers that are available. Encourage him/her to be part of the selection process. If your child is mature, socially skilled and assertive enough, have him/her participate in the initial telephone consultation described in […]

A good starting point for obtaining counseling services for your child is to consult with your child’s pediatrician/primary care physician. Have the doctor do a physical examination to determine if a medical condition is causing or contributing to your child’s emotional/behavioral difficulties. Make sure that the physical exam is thorough and includes blood work and, […]

Mental health services can be expensive. While insurance can help offset the cost, it can also be a source of frustration and confusion. To determine which mental health services are available to you under your insurance coverage and to help prevent complications, delays and/or unexpected costs, it is crucial that you read your insurance policy […]

In seeking mental health services for your child, you have several options available regarding the philosophy, frequency, intensity and duration of the treatment you choose. Listed in this section are the different levels of treatment in order of intensity (lowest to highest) and typical progression of care. If your child is not a danger to […]