Services We Do and Do Not Provide

These are our specialty clinics and programs:

• Autism Center

  • Who we see: Children and youth 15 months to 21 years old who have autism spectrum disorder.
  • What we offer: Diagnostic evaluation; a wide array of treatment programs in individual and group settings; referrals to other care and resources; research to better understand the causes and treatments for autism.
  • How to request care: You need a referral; ask your child’s primary care provider.
  • Read more about the Autism Center. 

• Early Childhood Clinic

  • Who we see: Children age 5 or younger who have behavior issues, anxiety, sleep problems, neurodevelopmental problems or prenatal (before birth) exposure to alcohol or drugs. We also see children who have other medical conditions along with a behavioral or emotional problem.
  • What we offer: Evaluation, treatment recommendations, individual and group training for parents, and referrals to other care and resources.
  • How to request care: You need a referral; ask your child’s primary care provider.
  • Read more about the Early Childhood Clinic.

• Mood and Anxiety Program

  • Who we see: Children age 6 to 18 who have anxiety disorders such as separation anxiety, selective mutism, social anxiety, school refusal, panic disorder and specific phobias. In addition we treat obsessive-compulsive disorder and related conditions including trichotillomania, excoriation disorder and tic disorders including Tourette syndrome. We also treat children age 6 to 18 who have mood disorders including depression and bipolar disorder as well as psychotic disorders, eating disorders and gender concerns.
  • What we offer: Evaluation, treatment recommendations, short-term individual therapy for children, group treatment for children and parents, medicine and referrals to other care and resources.
  • How to request care: You need a referral; ask your child’s primary care provider.
  • Read more about the Mood and Anxiety Program.

• Program to Enhance Attention, Regulation and Learning (PEARL) for ADHD

  • Who we see: Children age 5 to 18 who have attention, learning or behavior problems.
  • What we offer: Evaluation, development of a treatment plan for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and related conditions, collaboration with the referring primary care provider (who provides ongoing care), groups for parents, groups for children, medicine consultations and evaluations, intensive summer day program in partnership with University of Washington’s Apex summer camp, follow-up consultations, second opinions and access to research studies.
  • How to request care: You need a referral; ask your child’s primary care provider.
  • Read more about PEARL.

• Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine Unit (PBMU)

  • Who we see: Children age 3 to 18 who are in crisis due to complex mental health issues. We also see people age 19 to 21 who are developmentally delayed and in crisis.
  • What we offer: Short-term care in the hospital during a crisis.
  • How to request care: Patients are admitted to the PBMU only after they come to an emergency room and providers there decide they would benefit from an inpatient stay.
  • Read more about the PBMU.

• Mental health services for Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing children and teens

  We have providers who specialize in working with Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing children and teens who have mental health concerns. This team includes Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing mental health specialists. All of them are fluent in American Sign Language. Read more about mental health services for Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing children and teens (PDF).

• Consultation with medical or surgical providers at Seattle Children’s

  The Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine team consults and collaborates with Seattle Children’s medical and surgical providers who are caring for children with a wide range of health conditions. Pediatric psychologists, who are specially trained to help children and teens deal with serious illness, are part of the care team for the Cancer, Heart, Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Craniofacial Centers. They are also available to consult with patients in other programs as needed.

• Telepsychiatry

  Your child may be eligible for telepsychiatry services (using interactive videoconferencing) through partner clinics to reach children and families outside the Seattle area. We also provide telepsychiatry services through behavioral health agencies in Benton, Franklin, Grant, Thurston, Douglas, and Whatcom counties in Washington and in selected sites in Alaska. Seattle Children’s is a national leader in providing telehealth services.

Learn about our approach to care to decide if Seattle Children’s Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine is a match for your family.

• Short-term, evidence-based care

  We begin care with a thorough diagnostic evaluation to understand what is going on with your child and where it would be most helpful to receive care. We may recommend treatment at Seattle Children’s or in the community.

  Our team at Seattle Children’s provides targeted individual and group treatment using evidence-based methods to help your child meet specific goals.

  Most of our treatment plans are short term (less than 6 months). If your child needs longer-term care, we connect you with people and resources in the community who can meet your child’s needs.

• We partner with you

  You are an expert about your child. Our providers are experts about emotional and behavioral health and about caring for young people in partnership with their families. Together, we can help your child thrive.

  Parents play an active role in evaluation and treatment. This includes measuring your child’s behavior regularly and tracking their progress using an online system. Measuring behavior and reviewing results helps us know what is working so we can shape your child’s treatment.

• Ongoing groups

  Many children, teens and parents take part in our group treatments. In groups we teach about mental health conditions, how to cope with challenging emotions and situations and how to change behavior. Groups show children and teens they are not alone, give parents valuable support and allow us to serve more families. Learn more about group treatments.

• Pediatric experts

  Depending on your child’s needs, they may see a psychiatrist, psychologist, mental health therapist or psychiatric nurse practitioner on our team or a psychiatrist- or psychologist-in-training who is highly qualified and supervised by our experts. All are trained in the specific needs of children and teens.

The Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine team also provides services through Seattle Children’s Autism Center, the Eating Disorders Program and the Gender Clinic.

Services are available in the community for these needs. We do not offer these services:

• Treatment for sexual abuse or sexual aggression. Call the King County Sexual Assault Center at 888-998-6423 or Harborview’s Center for Sexual Assault and Traumatic Stress at 206-744-1600.
• Treatment for abuse, trauma or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Call Harborview’s Center for Sexual Assault and Traumatic Stress at 206-744-1600.
• Washington’s Mental Health Referral Service for Children and Teens connects families with mental health providers in your local area who fit your child’s mental health needs. Washington Healthcare Authority funds the service, and Seattle Children’s operates it.
• Long-term individual therapy or long-term medicine management.
• In-home therapy. Many community mental health centers provide this service.
• Parenting evaluations for legal purposes, such as developing parenting plans. Visit the Parenting Evaluation Treatment Program (PETP) Graduates web page for a list of trained providers in the community.
• School evaluations after suspension or expulsion. Contact your child’s school for a list of providers who do “return to school” evaluations.