Mental health care is a complex system, and families can find it difficult to locate services and providers to meet their children’s needs. The best place to start is to bring your concerns to your child’s primary care provider and request support to find the right services to address your child’s mental health needs. While seeking help sometimes comes with fear of stigma for families, research tells us that getting help early can make a life-long difference for your child.

Treatment Options

There are two primary types of treatment: psychotherapy and medication.

1. Psychotherapy (also called talk therapy) is when a person speaks with a trained therapist in a safe and confidential place to explore and understand feelings and behaviors and gain coping skills.¹Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is one form of psychotherapy used commonly for children with mental health concerns. To learn more, go the National Institute of Mental Health website at nih.gov/health/topics/psychotherapies. 
2. Medication may be suggested as part of your child’s treatment plan. Together with a medical professional, a family can decide if medication is appropriate. The doctor (usually a psychiatrist or primary care doctor) can write a prescription. If you have concerns after your child has started a new medication, contact the prescriber with any observations and details.
   1. 1. The use of medication is a personal and complex decision. To learn more about medication as a treatment option, see the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry’s Parents Medication Guides.  

Program Settings

Mental Health programs and services can be provided in various settings for children and teens. A few examples include private practice, community mental health agencies, residential care centers, and psychiatric inpatient units. To find programs and agencies in your area see Well Badger’s Youth Wellness Hub.

Private therapy practices, including individual, family and group therapy, can be held in different settings, most commonly with a provider in private practice. The professional could be a psychiatrist (medical doctor), clinical psychologist, licensed professional counselor, or clinical social worker. Go to mhanational.org/types-mental-health-professionals to learn more.

• • • Community Mental Health agencies provide outpatient services and support including counseling, evaluations, case management, medication management, and referrals to resources and public and private support. Many of these agencies accept Medicaid and private insurance, but still be sure to ask when calling to schedule a first appointment.
    • Residential Care Centers provide both short-term and long-term treatment. These programs may provide evaluation, psychotherapy, educational programming, or other intensive therapies. See the Department of Children and Families listing of Residential Care Centers in Wisconsin.
    • Psychiatric Inpatient Units are hospital-based programs that provide crisis mental health, evaluation, therapy/counseling, and other treatment services.