A Mom’s Guide to Finding the Right Mental Health Support for Your Child

It can feel stressful when your child is struggling. It can be even more overwhelming when you don’t know where to turn to for help. It’s fairly easy to find the right support by connecting with the top-rated mental health services for children.

Recognizing When Your Child Needs Help

Realizing when your child needs professional mental health support is the first step toward getting them help. Pay attention so you can notice any significant stressors that might be affecting them. You can also ask your child how they’re doing so they know you’re ready to listen.

School and the weight of academic expectations are often a culprit during these early phases in their life. Maybe your child is worrying about schoolwork or feeling pressure to do well, which puts them among the 40% of students who experience persistent feelings of sadness and hopelessness due to stress.

Friendships and family dynamics also play a major role in your child’s emotional well-being. Tense situations, like fighting with a sibling or struggling to make new friends, can be challenging to handle. Remind them that asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness.

How to Find the Right Mental Healthcare for Your Child

Sometimes, parents also need the reminder that asking for help is OK. Here’s how to kick-start your search process for mental healthcare.

Where to Start Your Search

Connect with other adults in your child’s life. Your pediatrician or a school counselor can have insights about their specific needs and provide both guidance and reassurance. Plus, they can help with coordinating care for your kid in the long run. They may have trusted resources to refer you to, ensuring that you don’t have to make this decision alone.

Understanding Evidence-Based Therapies

Seek mental health services that utilize evidence-based therapies or treatments supported by research. These approaches are proven to help kids.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) are two common examples that you may encounter. CBT can help your child identify and change harmful behaviors through talk therapy. Meanwhile, DBT assists kids who experience intense emotions. It teaches them how to manage and verbalize those feelings. 

Key Factors to Evaluate in a Provider

What should you include in your search checklist? Here are the main things to consider.

• Child and adolescent expertise: Providers who have helped children in the past will likely understand what your child is going through and how to address it effectively.
• Accreditation and certifications: Awards and recognition from the mental health industry are a testament to a provider’s credibility and commitment to quality care.
• Location and accessibility: Choose a provider in a convenient location that is easy to reach. That way, you can schedule regular sessions and accompany your child.
• Insurance coverage: Reduce your financial stress by choosing a provider that accepts your insurance or offers affordable payment options.
• Levels of care offered: It’s helpful to look for a provider who can tailor its mental health support according to your child’s needs. That could mean anything from a few sessions a month to something more structured.
• Success rates: What are the success rates for these top-rated programs? Results can vary depending on each provider’s approach and can be determined by tracking symptom reductions and life improvements.

Leading Mental Health Providers for Families

There are numerous reputable providers based in the U.S. that families can reach out to. Here are several suggestions.

1. Hillside

Hillside provides effective mental health treatment and support services for children, adolescents and their families in Atlanta and the Southeast. It specializes in DBT but provides a wide array of individualized services, including residential, outpatient and foster care.

Key Features

• Works with intensively trained therapists
• Provides tailored programs to improve behavioral and mental health
• Uses evidence-based therapy like DBT, Theraplay, animal-assisted therapy, therapeutic drumming and horticulture therapy

2. Southwest Network

Southwest Network is a recognized provider of mental and behavioral health services in the greater Phoenix area and throughout the Southwest. Families can create an individual service plan (ISP) for their child while further improving their understanding of their child’s needs.

Key Features

• Offers specialized care for ages birth to 5
• Organizes meetings in its outpatient clinic, your home or remote settings
• Accepts insurance coverage through Medicare and other programs while also offering cash-pay options and care assistance

3. Seven Hills Foundation

Seven Hills Foundation offers behavioral health services that provide mental health support to children and adolescents. Its services are available at its state-of-the-art hubs throughout the Northeast, but you can also explore telehealth for your child.

Key Features

• Has expertise in supporting people with disabilities
• Works with multiple community partners and agencies
• Provides behavioral health urgent care

4. Newport Academy

Newport Academy in the Northwest has residential treatment centers for children who need intensive mental health support. Each kid will have a care team that provides updates on progress and goals.

Key Features

• Provides family therapy and support groups for parents
• Improves patient outcomes through its Center for Research and Innovation
• Offers individualized treatment that involves CBT, DBT, motivational interviewing and other evidence-based modalities

Making the Best Choice for Your Family

Finding the right provider for your child’s unique needs may seem daunting at first, but there are many resources and capable professionals available to help. Getting support can help you feel confident in helping your kid with their growth and development.