Child and teen mental health
Children and adolescents are every bit as likely as adults (and sometimes more likely) to have psychological and emotional disorders. We tailor their treatment to fit their unique needs, offering rehabilitative services, counseling and access to other specialists as needed.
Behavioral health care for children and teens
We understand the emotions involved when your child or adolescent needs mental health care.
At Parkridge Valley Hospital, your child will be cared for by our team of specialists, who offer safe, individualized support. We will communicate with you regularly about your child's progress, helping you feel confident that your child is in good hands.
Need a physician referral?
MedLine can help. We are available by phone Monday through Friday from 7:00am to 7:00pm CST.
MedLine can help. We are available by phone Monday through Friday from 7:00am to 7:00pm CST.
Related specialties
Learn more about our related specialties.
Mental health conditions we treat in children and teens
Our dedicated providers offer personalized treatment for psychiatric, emotional and behavioral issues, such as:
- Abuse and trauma-related disorders
- Addictive disorders
- Anxiety disorders
- Attention deficit disorders
- Disruptive disorders
- Impulsive or aggressive behavior
- Mood disorders
- Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Psychosis
- Social and school problems
Specialized psychiatric care for kids and teens
Both our Acute Children's Program and Acute Adolescent Program provide a safe, age-friendly environment for your child to participate in services, such as group therapy and education.
Child and adolescent behavioral health programs
We offer age-specific programs for both children and adolescents. In both programs, our staff uses every opportunity to promote self-awareness and growth in every child or teenager entrusted to our care.
Features of our behavioral health programs
Regardless of their age, your child's individualized care will be led by board-certified child and adolescent psychiatrists, master's-level family clinicians, registered nurses, activity therapists, mental health workers and consulting psychologists.
Families are also an integral part of the treatment process, providing a historical perspective and ability to reinforce behavioral plans. It is essential to have the input of the family to establish meaningful treatment goals.
Services offered in both programs
Valley Academy, our interim education program, is offered in both our child and adolescent program. This is an accredited school for both regular education and special education needs, and provides children and adolescents a structured environment so they do not fall behind in school.
Additional services offered in both programs include:
- Activities therapy
- Behavior modification
- Family discharge planning sessions
- Group therapy
- Medication management
- Supportive medical care
Acute children's mental health program
The Acute Children's Program at our facility provides intensive, short-term, highly structured inpatient treatment for children ages 5 to 12 years old in a caring environment. It is based on the fundamental need to feel safe, interact with caring adults and experience success with peers in a school-like setting. The Acute Children's Program emphasizes the use of social skills in a normative growth and development environment.
What to expect
The program focuses on the physical, psychological, social, emotional and spiritual needs of your child. Our holistic approach is based on respect for the dignity and rights of each individual, while striving for the highest level of care.
Our goal is to help children explore and learn about the root causes of what they're feeling. Our staff is highly skilled in a full spectrum of therapies, and uses personalized approaches to help your child identify, minimize and overcome destructive behaviors. Under our providers’ careful supervision, your child will work toward increasing awareness, improving motivations and developing the skills to successfully manage their mood and impulsive behaviors.
Acute adolescent mental health program
The Adolescent Program at Parkridge Valley Hospital provides a safe and caring environment in which teens receive intensive, short-term inpatient treatment that helps troubled teens and their families identify problem areas that interfere with growth and development. The highly structured inpatient experience provides an opportunity to stabilize crises, assess problem areas and coordinate appropriate services.
This program focuses on catering to the unique physical, psychological, social, emotional and spiritual needs of adolescence. Working with a team of specially trained providers, teenagers between 13 and 18 years old learn to explore their feelings and understand the developments of this critical stage of life. We hope to help teens gain the skills, understanding and motivation to overcome their issues and thrive as a result.