Finding Mental Health Care for Your Child

Finding mental health services for your child can often seem like an immense challenge. Beyond the obstacles of stigma and shame, there are multiple barriers to obtaining help, including locating an available specialist who is licensed and trained amid a national shortage, navigating the complexities of the mental health system — public and private — engaging the school system for support and finding the right match for your child.

However, overcoming these challenges is possible with the right resources, support and determination.

Finding A Mental Health Care Professional

Here are a few tips on how to help your child get the care they need.

• Talk to your pediatrician. Many pediatric practices have behavioral practitioners that work within their group or have clinicians they typically refer to. It is typically easier to get an appointment with a mental health specialist if another health care professional refers you, such as your pediatrician.
• Call local behavioral health hospitals or community mental health centers in your area to see if they have any openings and get on their waiting lists if they have them.
• See if your child can meet with the school counselor or school nurse. Federal and state law requires public schools to provide mental health care if a mental health problem interferes with their academic or social life.
• Talk to a friend or relative with similar experience. Sometimes, if a friend or family member has their child under professional care, they might have suggestions about how to get an appointment in the clinic they use.
• If your child is experiencing an acute situation. and you are concerned about their safety or the safety of others, go to your local emergency room. There, you will get an immediate medical evaluation and suggestions for options to access mental health treatment. Many places will make referrals for you. In some situations, the recommendation may be made for a hospitalization. This might be inpatient or acute residential care setting, frequently followed by a day program, arranged by the hospital or through an outpatient referral made by the hospital. Behavioral health hospital units or residential treatment programs are required to provide referrals for continued care upon discharge.

Navigating The Mental Health System

In the absence of a national health care system, the mental health system is incredibly complex and confusing, even for doctors. It looks different in each state and often in communities within the same state. It’s important not to get discouraged — here are some tips to help you get started.

Know Your Insurance Coverage

Health insurance can be complicated, and insurance policies vary, even those within the same company. Coverage of mental health services is typically different from coverage of other medical care. Call your insurer and ask what your policy covers (including outpatient, inpatient, partial or day programs) and ask what the copayments and/or deductibles are. Ask if your policy is an HMO (Health Maintenance Organization) or PPO (Preferred Provider Organization) and request a list of providers who take your insurance.

One advantage of a PPO is that if your policy does not work with a provider you want (out of network), you could be eligible for partial reimbursement for paying out of pocket. Ask how much the insurance company would pay for a provider’s services — “the allowable fee.”

Be sure to see what the provider charges and compare that with the insurance rate. The reimbursement is usually a percentage of their allowable fee, not the provider’s fee. So, 70% reimbursement may be far less than you think, depending on what the provider charges. Sadly, many providers do not take insurance, but you should be able to get some reimbursement if you have a PPO.

Call Hospital Clinics

If you have a Medicaid or an Affordable Care Act plan, you may not be able to see a clinician in private practice depending on your plan, and, unfortunately, it can be more challenging to get reimbursement from these plans. In this case, call hospital clinics or large group practices, as they frequently take all types of insurance.

Try Walk-In Clinics

Additionally, some hospitals have psychiatric walk-in clinics for urgent care, and this avoids the hassle of emergency rooms. However, you should choose this option only if you are confident that the situation is not an emergency but serious enough that your child is showing symptoms of a mental health condition.

Obtaining Accommodations In Public School

Federal legislation mandates that public schools provide evaluation for children who have difficulties that interfere with their ability to learn. These difficulties include things like vision, hearing and also emotional or behavioral problems that interfere with academic or social functioning. Every parent or guardian has the right to request a complete evaluation of their child. This may include a clinical evaluation (in school or as an outpatient elsewhere) and psychological testing (in school or outside school). Once approved by the school, they are obligated to pay for the evaluation.

After you obtain the evaluation, you and your child will attend a team meeting, including teachers and usually the school psychologist. You can also bring in your own psychiatrist or psychologist if you like (or even a letter stating their concerns and treatment plans). In that meeting, you discuss challenges and develop an Individual Educational Plans (IEPs) to help your child. If it’s determined that your child isn’t eligible for an IEP, then another option is working with the school to develop a plan for less intensive services through a Section 504 Plans. 504 Plans do not require that a child have a disability.

Check out our “Getting Your Child Mental Health Support and Accommodations in School” page for more information on this topic.

Finding The Right Therapist For Your Child

You may not find a lot of options for therapists for your child. Yet, like all relationships, you need to be sure that your child and therapist “click,” that their relationship is trustworthy and that you also are confident with the match. How well they fit may have little to do with credentials. Sometimes, the most famous therapist in your community, who attended the best training programs, isn’t right for your child.

There are two primary factors you should pay attention to:

1. The relationship the clinician has with your child
2. Whether the clinician has the right skills to provide the best care for your child

Most behavioral treatments take time, so don’t worry if progress is not immediate. The therapist may not be a poor match; rather, the work may take more time. Be sure to ask your clinician for the diagnosis and the treatment plan, including the types of treatment being provided, and keep asking any questions you have until you fully understand what types of interventions your child’s clinician is providing.

Get A Second Opinion

If things don’t appear to be going well with the diagnosis and treatment plan, you might want to ask your child’s clinician for a consultation with another provider. This can ensure there is agreement on what the core problems are and that the best evidence-based treatment is in place. Every good clinician should welcome a fresh set of eyes on the situation.