12% of California’s youth were diagnosed with a mental health condition between 2017 and 2021. Of those children, only about half received treatment.
At BNI Clinics, we believe we can do better. We serve families in California, offering child and adolescent therapy for youth with mental and behavioral health needs.
Our mission is to bring health and happiness back to your family through evidence-based, expert-level care. If you’re concerned about your child’s mental health or behavior, we can help.
What We Treat: Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health Conditions
Not being able to heal your child’s pain is one of the worst feelings as a parent. It’s especially difficult when that pain is emotional, and your course of action isn’t clear. What do you do if your teenager is withdrawing and won’t talk to you? What about if your child is performing poorly in school despite their best efforts? What do you do if your child’s explosive anger is out of control, and nothing you do seems to help?
That’s where BNI Clinics comes in. We’re fully equipped to diagnose and treat a plethora of behavioral health conditions in youth, including, but not limited to, depression, anxiety, ADHD, and substance use disorders.
How We Treat: BNI Clinics’ Treatment Methods for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
If you choose to trust us with your child’s care, we’ll provide the comprehensive, science-based treatment they need to overcome any behavioral health condition they’re diagnosed with. No two people are alike, and child and adolescent psychiatry differs from psychiatry for adults. We put this into practice, and ensure every step of treatment is highly individualized – customized to suit your child’s needs and goals.
At BNI Clinics, we can diagnose your child with behavioral health conditions. We also have experts on staff who not only offer a variety of evidence-based therapies – but can also prescribe and manage medication.
The First Step: Professional Diagnosis
If you’re concerned about your child’s mental health or behavior, BNI Clinics can put a name to the cause. Our psychiatrists can diagnose a wide variety of conditions through our psychological testing.
We provide testing related to:
- Attention/concentration concerns
- Emotional, social, or behavioral disorders
- Intellectual functioning and learning disabilities
We also perform personality tests when relevant.
The testing process can involve interviews, both with the child and their loved ones who can provide insight into their well-being. We’ll review their health records, and administer, score, and interpret psychological assessments as needed. We’ll then share the results and our treatment recommendations.
Prescribing and Managing Medication as Part of Comprehensive Care
Psychiatrists are a core part of our staff at BNI Clinics. Unlike therapists, who also have exceptionally important roles, psychiatrists are medical physicians who can officially diagnose conditions and prescribe medications for them. This enables BNI Clinics to use medication as a tool for children and adolescents when the situation calls for it. We discuss medication carefully with caretakers and family members, and will never prescribe or tell your child to take medication without your knowledge and permission.
The Combination of Therapy and Medicine: An Important Partnership
At BNI Clinics, we believe both therapy and medication are excellent tools to promote healing. Therapy is at the core of our treatment, and our first line of defense, with medication serving as a partner in the process as needed.
Some of the most common therapies we utilize are:
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) – This modality helps teens and children identify harmful thought patterns and reshape them into something that promotes growth and well-being.
- Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) – DBT teaches children how to manage their emotions healthily, which is especially useful for borderline personality disorder, or other conditions including emotional dysregulation.
- Family therapy – Family is a key component of recovery, especially for young people. Therapy for everyone involved will ensure an environment that promotes healing for your child and the family unit as a whole.
- Psychodynamic therapy – This therapy explores the unconscious processes that influence behavior, including past experiences.
BNI Clinics is also fully equipped to assist youth in crisis. This means stabilizing children with suicidal ideation, or other severe behavioral health episodes.
We also work closely with BNI Treatment Centers, our sister facility for adolescents with behavioral health conditions who could benefit from more intensive, long-term care. BNI Treatment Centers offers medical detoxification, residential, partial hospitalization, and intensive outpatient programs.
What Is Child and Adolescent Psychiatry?
Child and adolescent psychiatry is a form of healthcare dedicated to mental health conditions in youth. A 2024 study found that one-fifth of all disease-related disabilities in people aged 5 to 24 were due to mental health conditions. That same study found that 7% of children aged 5 to 9 were diagnosed with a mental health condition. Some children live with mental health challenges before they even learn to read.
That’s why psychiatry for children and teens is so important. Early diagnosis and intervention changes lives for the better, and in some cases, saves them.
How Psychiatric Care Can Benefit Your Child or Teen
Whether it be through therapy, medication, or both, psychiatric care can be a huge help to youth in need. Even if your child isn’t facing mental health or behavioral challenges that feel insurmountable – therapy could benefit them, too.
Psychiatric care can help your teen, who lived through something traumatic, learn how to manage their fears and triggers healthily. It can empower your child who can’t stay focused at school or finish their homework most days to develop strategies and tackle their challenges. It can teach your teen with intense anger how to deal with those feelings safely and productively.
Psychiatry is a powerful system that gives your child the tools they need to feel more secure in themselves and their emotions. Having a safe adult to talk to outside of those directly involved in their life is a significant asset for your child as they grow and strive for long-term wellness.
Your Role in Your Child’s Psychiatric Treatment: Examples and Accountability
Your exact role in your child’s psychiatric care will depend on the details of their treatment, but it’s a vital role regardless.
You are your child’s number-one support system. Make sure they know you’re there to support them in anything they learn in therapy – or anything else in life. Ask them what they talked about in therapy, but don’t take it personally if they don’t want to share. Part of therapy’s appeal for young people is the privacy it provides. Rest assured, if your child shares something particularly concerning with their therapist or psychiatrist, we’ll inform you.
You can also aid in your child’s mental health journey by modeling the behavior you want them to exhibit. The younger they are, the more important this is. If you’re concerned about your child’s anger, you’ll need to work hard to keep a cool head and deal with your own frustration productively, too. Children are good at spotting hypocrites, and if their anger is a problem, but it’s okay for you to be angry, they’ll likely be less receptive to treatment. This is true for all mental health conditions and unhealthy behaviors. You won’t be perfect at this. It’s okay to admit when your actions aren’t appropriate and apologize to your child. You can serve as a great example of how to take responsibility, too.
You’ll also have the important role of holding your child accountable at home. Make sure they put what they’re learning in treatment into practice, and that they take their medication if it’s part of their treatment plan. This won’t always be easy, but by doing so, you’re investing in their mental health for the future.
We provide resources and education on youth psychiatry and the mental health challenges they experience to families. As a parent, taking advantage of those resources is crucial to your child’s mental health journey. There will be aspects of their treatment you’re confused about. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, and always seek to understand your child’s condition and experiences.
Sometimes, setting your child up for success requires you to learn and change just as many behaviors as they do. That’s okay. Stay open-minded, and remember that your child getting better will be a team effort from your whole family.
Trusting BNI Clinics With Your Child’s Psychiatric Care
We know it’s a big step to put your child’s mental health into the hands of people you don’t know. We also know that sometimes, a situation is so dire that you’re willing to do just about anything to get your child the help they need. We’re here to provide life-changing, effective treatment – no matter where your child is in their mental health journey. We encourage you to contact us with any questions you have.
BNI Clinics provides mental and behavioral healthcare for families in the Los Angeles area. Our psychiatric experts are ready to deliver the individualized, evidence-based care your child needs to live their life to the fullest. Contact us today at 310-691-5005 to get started.
BNI Clinics: Science-based, evidence-backed, compassion-led.
FAQ’s
When should I Consider child and adolescent psychiatry for my child?
Consider care if your child shows ongoing mood changes, anxiety, anger, withdrawal, attention problems, or declining school performance. Early evaluation helps prevent symptoms from worsening.
What conditions are treated in child and adolescent psychiatry?
Psychiatrists treat ADHD, anxiety, depression, trauma, mood disorders, behavioral challenges, and substance use concerns. They also assess learning and emotional regulation issues.
What happens during the first psychiatric evaluation?
The first visit includes interviews with the child and parents, review of history, and possible psychological testing. A personalized treatment plan is then created.
Does my child need medication or just therapy?
Treatment may involve therapy alone or combined with medication. Medication is recommended only when symptoms significally affect daily life and is discussed with parents.
How long does child and adolescent psychiatric treatment take?
Treatment length varies based on diagnosis and individual needs. Some children benefit from short-term support, while others may require longer-term care for sustained improvement.
