Healthy mental development is the lifelong process of building social, emotional, and behavioral wellness. Your child's doctor fosters this development by helping your child navigate symptoms, conditions, and stressors in a healthy way.
Your child's doctor may suggest that your child see a mental health or behavioral specialist. Many types of specialists are available to help children, teens, and their families with mental and behavioral concerns. They may be able to help with evaluation, testing, or treatment. Treatment includes counseling, education, or prescribing medicine. With your permission, your child's doctor can provide or coordinate care to make sure the needs of your child and family are met. It's important that there be clear communication among everyone involved in your child's health care.
In this publication, the term
Types of Mental and Behavioral Health Specialists
Here is information about different types of mental and behavioral health specialists. License and practice requirements may differ from state to state.
Developmental-behavioral pediatricians are trained to help children with developmental, learning, emotional, and behavioral concerns including conditions such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). They help children and families manage challenges caused by childhood illness or disability. These doctors provide behavioral support, prescribe medicine if needed, and typically work with other doctors and counselors to meet families' needs.
Adolescent medicine specialists are medical doctors with additional training in caring for teens and their families. They help teens and families with common conditions such as eating disorders, substance use, depression, and anxiety.
Child neurologists are medical doctors trained to diagnose and treat children with concerns of the nervous system. They help determine if a child has a brain condition that affects learning and behavior and what treatment is best. These doctors can prescribe medicine and have experience doing so for brain conditions and behavioral challenges.
Child and adolescent psychiatrists are medical doctors trained to diagnose and fully treat emotional and behavioral symptoms and diagnoses as well as psychiatric disorders. They can prescribe medicine if needed. These doctors have special training in treating children, teens, and families.
Nurse practitioners with advanced psychiatric training are advanced practice nurses who specialize in diagnosing and treating mental health symptoms and conditions. They typically work with a psychiatrist. These nurses can evaluate your child, prescribe medicine if needed, and fully treat mental and behavioral concerns.
Psychiatric physician assistants are advanced practice practitioners who specialize in diagnosing and treating mental health symptoms and conditions. They typically work with a psychiatrist. These practitioners can evaluate your child, prescribe medicine if needed, and provide a range of treatments for mental and behavioral concerns.
Clinical psychologists are licensed doctoral (PhD)–level specialists trained to diagnose and give psychological tests. They are trained to treat learning, behavioral, and emotional concerns such as depression, anxiety, and conduct disorders, as well as adjustment problems related to medical illnesses. Some are experts in caring for children and teens.
Psychologists with a master's degree are licensed specialists trained to give psychological tests. They also counsel individuals and families. In some states, they may be independently licensed to work. In other states, they may work only if supervised by a doctoral-level licensed psychologist or psychiatrist.
School psychologists are doctoral or master's degree specialists who work with children at school. They evaluate and counsel children with learning, emotional, and behavioral concerns.
Licensed clinical social workers and licensed social workers are master's- or doctoral-trained specialists who diagnose and treat mental and behavioral health concerns. They also counsel children and families. Licensed clinical social workers help families deal with physical, mental, or emotional challenges. They may teach children how to recognize and manage feelings, develop communication and relationship skills, and build problem-solving and coping skills and may help families link to community resources.
Clinical therapists are master's- or doctoral-trained specialists who counsel children and families. They build skills around feelings, communication and relationships, and problem-solving and coping and may help families link to community resources.
Substance use specialists are trained to evaluate and treat substance use in children, teens, and families. They may be physicians, psychologists, social workers, or counselors with special interest and training in addiction.
Community mental health resources include mental health professionals and services offered through health departments, public mental health programs, religious organizations, nonprofit counseling agencies, colleges, and medical centers.
Family organizations and support groups are local and national organizations offering a range of resources including brochures, books, or information posted on the internet; public speakers and conferences; and support and advocacy groups.
Other mental health professionals include counselors, nurses with specialized training, art therapists, music therapists, and family therapists who are experts in helping children and teens with mental health concerns. They can also help families support and care for their children.
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Disclaimer
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is an organization of 67,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists, and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety, and well-being of all infants, children, adolescents, and young adults.
In all aspects of its publishing program (writing, review, and production), the AAP is committed to promoting principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion.
The information contained in this publication should not be used as a substitute for the medical care and advice of your pediatrician. There may be variations in treatment that your pediatrician may recommend based on individual facts and circumstances.