Agoura Hills, CA – Mental health is a growing concern for children. Local mental health provider BNI Clinics recently shared a blog on how to choose the right child psychiatrist. “50% of lifetime mental health conditions begin by age 14. Despite this, nearly 21% of children in California did not receive the mental healthcare they needed in 2021 and 2022,” the blog explains, highlighting the importance of the subject they tackle in the blog.
“Some tantrums, mood swings, and ups and downs are normal in childhood. It’s when these behaviors greatly interfere in a child’s life that it might be time to seek additional help,” the article explains. It then lists several symptoms to look for in children that might indicate they could use mental health services. Some of these include excessive worry, hopelessness, withdrawal from friends and family, self-destructive behavior, compulsive behaviors, and difficulties with social interaction, but the blog names several more. BNI Clinics also recommends parents speak to their child’s pediatrician if they have any concerns about their mental health, pointing out that they can offer guidance and a potential referral if needed.
The next portion of the blog details the different mental health professionals and therapies parents have to choose from. It first explains the differences between mental health counselors, psychologists, and psychiatrists. “Mental health counselors provide either group or individual talk therapy and include clinical social workers. Psychologists can perform diagnostic testing and therapy. Psychiatrists primarily focus on diagnosing conditions and are licensed to treat them with medication,” the article says, though they mention that there are exceptions to these descriptions. Some therapies BNI Clinics specifically highlights for children are cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), play therapy, and occupational therapy, though they mention others.
When it comes to choosing the mental health professional for their child, BNI Clinics recommends parents research the provider’s qualifications. Someone with a specialty in child and adolescent psychiatry is best, according to the blog. It also informs the reader that the process might take some trial and error before they find the best fit for their child. “You want a mental health professional both you and your child are comfortable with,” the blog says. “They should communicate clearly, empathetically, and in a way your child understands and responds well to. They should also be open to questions from your child, and answer them patiently, thoroughly, and sincerely.”
The article explains a bit of what parents can expect in an initial psychiatric appointment for their child. “They’ll speak to you and your child, both together and separately, about your concerns, family history, strategies that have helped and difficult areas, and their health history.” According to the blog, this will determine the best therapy for the child, and the professional should present a treatment plan following their assessments. The blog reminds parents to consider their child’s opinions and comfort in choosing their mental health professional and encourages them to trust their instincts and their child’s feelings about the practitioner.
The blog closes by acknowledging the difficulty of finding the proper mental health professional for children but encourages parents in their search. “Don’t rush to find the right fit, and work together with your child to find someone you can both trust.”
BNI Clinics, located in Agoura Hills, California, specializes in mental health and addiction recovery services for all age groups. They offer assessments and diagnoses for conditions, individual and group therapy, and medication management. They also provide medication-assisted therapy (MAT) for substance use disorders, as well as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and ketamine therapy when they deem it beneficial. They partner closely with BNI Treatment Centers for teens who require more intensive treatment. For more information, visit their website, or call them at (310) 691-5005.
“BNI Clinics: Science-based, evidence-backed, compassion-led.”
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For more information about BNI Clinics, contact the company here:
BNI Clinics
Maria Sarkisian
310-691-5005
maria@bnitreatment.com
28038 Dorothy Dr Ste#200
Agoura Hills, CA, 91301
