Navigating the Unique Needs of Adolescent Patients

While children need healthcare at all ages, the teenage years often bring their own unique developmental challenges including mental health, reproductive health, sports injuries, eating disorders and pain management.

Seattle Children’s has deep expertise in caring for the physical and emotional needs of young people from puberty through early adulthood, providing consultation, evaluation and treatment of health issues that commonly arise during the teenage years.

Seattle Children’s offers comprehensive Adolescent Medicine services in several locations, including Seattle, Federal Way, Olympia, Everett and Bellevue.

In addition to comprehensive routine medical care, specialty consultation and care are offered for several health needs, including:

• Eating Disorders – For youth with concerns of restrictive eating (including athletes), selective eating (as part of weight loss), and intentional restriction. Seattle Children’s offers an interdisciplinary approach with nutrition, medical and social work support. Locations include: Seattle, Federal Way and Everett. Refer a patient.
• Reproductive Health – From support managing menstrual periods to questions about contraception, Seattle Children’s can help with counseling and management of contraception options including pills, patch, ring, injection, implant and IUD. Locations include: Seattle, Federal Way, Bellevue and Everett. Refer a patient.
• Biofeedback – For teenagers with chronic headaches or abdominal pain, Seattle Children’s offers a series of biofeedback therapy sessions with medical support, providing practical skills to help patients learn how to control their body’s response to pain and improve their health. Locations include: Seattle, Federal Way and Everett, with Bellevue coming soon. Refer a patient.
• Adolescent Gynecology – For comprehensive routine care, specialized treatment and surgical support for gynecological conditions in adolescents, Seattle Children’s works closely with patients to meet their specific needs. Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology locations include: Seattle, Federal Way, Bellevue and Everett. Refer a patient.

These are just a few of the many services offered for teens and young adults at Seattle Children’s, visit the Adolescent Medicine web page to see the full list of specialties.