Children and teens go through important developmental stages and experience changes with their bodies, moods, interests, social groups, etc. They’re also trying to understand their complex feelings and learning how to manage new or confusing emotions. As a parent or caregiver, knowing the types of mental health treatment available for children and teens can help put your child on the path to mental health wellness.

On a given day, children and teens can face many of the same emotional struggles as adults, including sadness, self-doubt, anger, guilt, worry and much more. But children are not as equipped to understand how to respond to these feelings in a healthy way. When youth experience difficult emotions and hardships, the help and guidance of a caring counselor or therapist can have many positive, long-lasting benefits.

That’s why we provide a free guide to inform you about some of the most common forms of counseling, therapy and mental health treatment available for children and teens and how to find them. It also helps you understand the types of professional help you may want to explore depending on your child’s level of need. While various types of treatment are discussed in this guide, it’s important to work with a licensed professional to determine what’s best for your child and family.

Below are quick overviews of some of the most common types of counselors and mental health treatment available for children and teens. You can click here to download the full guide for more information.

For General Stress & Mental Health Maintenance:

Stress is a natural part of growing up. It’s important for caregivers to know how they can support their child’s mental wellbeing. KVC provides educational resources to empower parents with the knowledge they need to cope with challenges as they arise.

Resources for Parents and Caregivers to Support their Child’s Mental Wellbeing:

• How to Cope: Creating a Mental Health Toolkit
• What Parents & Teens Need to Know About the Surgeon General’s Mental Health Warning for Social Media
• Building Self-Esteem and Self-Worth: How Parents and Caregivers Make a Difference
• The Loneliness Epidemic: Cultivating a Culture of Connection
• How Academic Stress and Digital Learning Impact Students’ Mental Health
• How to Support Children’s Mental Health Through Better Sleep
• Supporting Teens in Navigating Body Image and Self-Esteem Challenges
• Making Self-Care a Daily Practice: Tips for Improving Mental Health
• Children’s Mental Health: How We Can Promote Wellness

The demands of daily life, including school-related stress, can take a toll on your child’s wellbeing. Children and teens might struggle with low self-esteem, bullying, poor school performance, classroom disruptions or other behavioral challenges. If you’ve noticed your child struggling with one of more of these behavioral challenges, a school counselor, social worker or pastoral counselor can be a great place to start for help.

For More Specific Mental Health Needs: Licensed Mental Health Professionals

If your child’s needs exceed what a school or pastoral counselor can help with, is outside of their expertise, or if your child has a mental health diagnosis or potential diagnosis, the help of a licensed mental health professional is necessary.

When deciding which type of professional is best suited to help your child, start by talking to your child’s pediatrician or primary care physician. They can perform a physical exam and ask about their symptoms to begin investigating whether there are physical problems that can be causing the symptoms. They can help you decide what type of mental health professional is best for your child and determine if health insurance or other methods can be used to cover the cost of treatment.

Some of the most common types of mental health professionals include:

• Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
• Licensed Specialist Clinical Social Worker (LSCSW)
• Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)
• Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT)
• Psychologists
• Psychiatrists

Individual, family and group therapy are all options that might be beneficial to your child. Virtual options have made therapy more accessible. Telehealth eliminates the need to travel to an office, coordinate childcare or take time off from work.

When Safety is a Concern

When a child or teen is coping with severe emotional, behavioral or mental health challenges, it may be necessary to seek higher levels of care. These types of care include inpatient acute hospitalization or residential treatment. When receiving these types of care, children reside in a treatment center where they receive 24-hour supervision to keep them safe.

• Residential Treatment (QRTP & PRTF): Youth in residential treatment are not actively experiencing a mental health emergency, but they do struggle to maintain progress. During residential treatment, youth receive intensive clinical services in a structured, home-like environment and the average length of stay is 60 to 90 days.
• Inpatient Mental Health Hospital: Acute hospitalization for a mental health crisis with the goal of stabilization. Treatment is typically shorter-term care with an average stay of 5 to 7 days, depending on the child’s unique needs and supports.

Learn more about Residential Mental Health Treatment and Inpatient Mental Health Treatment here.

Finding the Support You Deserve

There are many types of treatment available and finding the right one for your child or teen is important. Speak with your physician, local community health center, school counselor, or a mental health professional to address concerns and receive guidance.

If you would like to talk to someone about receiving mental health services from KVC, contact your local KVC office below. We offer a range of behavioral health services which are designed to promote healthy brain development, build resilience, and help our clients learn healthy skills to manage difficult emotions and move forward into a healthier and happier future.

Camber Mental Health: Call (913) 890-7468

*serving Kansas & Missouri

• Residential Mental Health Treatment
• Inpatient Mental Health Hospitals

Kansas: Call (913) 499-8100

• Therapy
• Medication Management
• Outpatient Behavioral Health Services

Kentucky: Call (859) 254-1035

• Behavioral Health Virtual Therapy Services
• Adolescent Substance Use Treatment
• Outpatient Therapy

Missouri: Call (844) 424-3577

• School-Based Mental Health
• KVC Academy – Therapeutic K-12
• Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)
• Admissions to Residential Treatment
• Inpatient Children’s Mental Health Hospitals

Nebraska: Call (402) 498-4700

• Outpatient Therapy
• Intensive Outpatient Substance Abuse Treatment

West Virginia: Call (304) 347-9818

• Child, Family and Adult Mental Health Therapy

If you know a child or young adult struggling with depression or experiencing thoughts of self-harm, contact the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or get help online. If action has been taken or someone is experiencing a life-threatening emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.