When to Consider a Psychiatric Evaluation for Your Child
Every child has hard days. It may be time to talk with a professional when feelings or behavior are lasting, severe, or getting in the way of school, friendships, family life, or sleep. Examples include:
- Ongoing sadness, irritability, withdrawal, or loss of interest in things they used to enjoy
- Worry, fear, panic, or avoiding school or social situations
- Trouble paying attention, sitting still, or finishing work, along with falling grades or conflict at home
- Big mood swings, very low or very high energy, or major changes in sleep or appetite
- Repeated unwanted thoughts or rituals, or distress after a frightening or stressful event
- Talk of hopelessness, self-harm, or suicide, which needs immediate attention (see the safety note below)
What a Child or Adolescent Evaluation Involves
An evaluation is a conversation, not a test. It generally includes:
- A parent or guardian interview about your child's symptoms, development, health, family history, and what has helped or not helped
- Time with your child, in a way that fits their age. Teens are usually seen for part of the visit on their own, with parents involved in the plan
- School and other information, such as report cards, teacher comments, prior evaluations, or pediatrician records, when available
- Screening questionnaires and a review of medications, sleep, and any substance use in teens
- A shared plan that explains the diagnosis, if there is one, and the options for care
If an evaluation suggests that psychological, learning, or autism-related testing would help, we can coordinate a referral.
Conditions We Commonly Treat in Children and Teens
- ADHD
- Anxiety disorders, including generalized anxiety, panic, and social anxiety
- Depression and other mood disorders
- Bipolar disorder
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Trauma- and stress-related conditions
- Sleep problems and behavior concerns that affect daily life
Treatment Options
Treatment is matched to your child's age, diagnosis, and family. Options may include education for parents and children, strategies for home and school, coordination with a therapist or counselor, and medication when it is appropriate. Therapy is often an important part of care, and for many conditions it is the first step.
When medication is recommended, we explain why, what it is meant to help, the possible side effects, and the alternatives. Some medications are FDA-approved for specific uses in children, and others are used based on clinical evidence. We start carefully, follow your child closely, and check things like growth, weight, blood pressure, sleep, and mood as appropriate. Antidepressants carry an FDA boxed warning about increased risk of suicidal thoughts in children, teens, and young adults, which is one reason follow-up is so important. Learn more on our medication management page.
Working With Parents and Families
Parents and guardians are partners in care. A parent or legal guardian provides consent for treatment of a minor, and we encourage you to take part in visits and to share what you see at home and at school. At the first visit, we explain how privacy works for teens, including what stays confidential and the situations in which we must involve parents or others to keep a young person safe.
In-Person and Telehealth Visits
Visits are available in our Lexington office. Telepsychiatry is available for patients who are located in South Carolina at the time of the visit, and a parent or guardian should be available for visits with children. Learn more on our telepsychiatry page.
Safety Note
If your child or teen is thinking about suicide or hurting themselves or someone else, do not wait for an appointment. Call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline), call 911, or go to the nearest emergency room.
Ready to get started?
Register as a new patient and our office will confirm your appointment. Questions first? Call (803) 956-9508, Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM.
Frequently Asked Questions
What ages do you see?
North Star sees patients across the lifespan, from pediatric to geriatric. For very young children, please contact our office so we can talk through your child's needs and whether our practice is the right fit.
What happens at my child's first appointment?
A parent or guardian shares your child's history and concerns, and the provider talks with your child in an age-appropriate way. We may review school information and questionnaires, and we finish with a plan that explains the diagnosis, if there is one, and the options for care.
Does my child need medication?
Not necessarily. Many children and teens benefit from therapy, family and school strategies, or a combination of treatments. Medication is considered when symptoms are significant and it is likely to help, and the decision is made together with parents and, when appropriate, the child.
Will I know what my teenager tells the provider?
Parents and guardians stay involved in care. Teens are usually seen for part of the visit on their own to build trust, and we explain how privacy works at the first visit, including when parents or others must be told to keep a teen safe.
What should I bring to the first visit?
A list of current medications, any past evaluations, and school records or teacher comments if you have them. Insurance information and any pediatrician records are also helpful.
Can my child be seen by telehealth?
Yes, when it is clinically appropriate and your child is located in South Carolina during the visit. A parent or guardian should be present or available for visits with children.
How do I know if my child's worry or mood is normal?
Some worry and moodiness are part of growing up. A professional evaluation is helpful when symptoms last for weeks, are intense, or interfere with school, friendships, family life, sleep, or safety.
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