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Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine

Contact Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine

  • Seattle
    206-987-2164
  • Bellevue
    425-454-9003
  • Odessa Brown
    206-987-7260
More Contact Information, Hours and Maps

Related Research

The field of psychiatry and behavioral medicine addresses mental health needs. At Children's Hospital, our team works to diagnose, treat and prevent emotional and behavioral problems among young people from infancy through age 21. One of our main concerns is helping your child cope with behavioral or psychiatric issues that go along with serious illnesses, major treatments and neurodevelopmental conditions.

We work closely with experts in the Transplant Center, the Cancer and Blood Disorders Program and the Craniofacial Center to provide complete and coordinated care for your child. We also evaluate and treat young people who have complex or rare psychiatric or psychological disorders, and work with experts in clinics, including Adolescent Medicine, Neurodevelopmental and Rehabilitation Medicine.

Our nationally recognized providers see patients at Seattle Children's and Bellevue campuses and at the Odessa Brown Children's Clinic in Seattle's Central District. Our telepsychiatry service uses the latest technology to offer long-distance consultations throughout Washington state and in Ketchikan, Alaska.

Meet the Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine care team.

Conditions we treat

We care for the mental health of children and teens with many conditions, including:

  • Autism spectrum disorders

    Autism is a disorder that can affect the way a child behaves, thinks, communicates and interacts with others. Children with autism are affected in different ways. Some have only mild symptoms and grow up to live on their own, while others have more severe symptoms and need supported living and working environments throughout their lives.

  • Complicated or treatment-resistant Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders (ADHD)

    ADHD refers to a set of behavioral disorders. Symptoms vary from child to child; but in general, children with ADHD may be hyper, act without thinking and have trouble keeping their minds on one subject or task. Children with ADHD may understand how they are expected to act, but they may have trouble controlling their behavior or paying attention.

  • Depression, anxiety, bipolar and other mood disorders

    When a depressed or anxious mood lasts for weeks and affects your child's daily life, treatment may help. There are several types of depression, including major depression, dysthemia, bipolar disorder, seasonal affective disorder and adjustment disorder with depressed mood. Anxiety is feeling fearful, threatened or panicky with no clear cause. Both depression and anxiety are serious medical conditions.

  • Psychiatric and behavioral issues occurring along with medical and surgical conditions

    Children who have serious illnesses or who are undergoing major treatment may experience mental health issues at the same time. These co-occurring conditions may be a result of their illness or a side effect of the medicine they are taking. They may arise from the challenges of living with a serious condition. Whatever the cause, our team provides help with emotional and behavioral issues and coping skills.

  • Eating disorders

    We offer evaluations, consultations and orientations to help your child and your family learn about the services for eating disorders at Children's. We help you find the services that will best meet your family's needs. Our team also offers long-term follow-up therapy for individuals and families. We have a therapy group to help your child develop coping skills, and offer a class for parents to help you at mealtime. Our team works closely with experts in Adolescent Medicine to ensure your child receives care that is complete.

Services we offer

Some of the specialty services we offer include:

  • Telepsychiatry service

    We use technology such as cameras and videoconferencing to offer long-distance consultation through partner clinics in Wenatchee, Olympia, Yakima, Longview and Aberdeen, Washington, and in Ketchikan, Alaska.

  • Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) (PDF)

    Dialectical Behavior Therapy uses a combination of treatments, such as individual talk therapy, group therapy and social training, to help children and teens who have more than one psychological problem. Healthcare providers may recommend DBT for a variety of problems, including severe depression.

  • Inpatient hospital stay

    We offer treatment for children and teens who need short-term hospital care until their conditions become stable. When your child is ready to go home, we provide support for your child and your family to make the entry back to the community as easy as possible.

Providers Outside of Our Clinics

Providers at community mental health centers and in private practice can diagnose and treat primary mental health issues. Below is a list of those diagnoses or conditions for which community resources are available to serve your child's needs. We have included links that may help you find appropriate help for your child.

Medicaid Patients

Patients with Medicaid coverage are required to receive mental healthcare in their county of residence, unless:

• The appointment is for a second opinion
• The appointment is for a consultation about medicine

If you have Medicaid coverage, live outside of King County and are not seeking a second opinion or consultation about medicine, see your behavioral healthcare provider or regional services network for assistance. Use this list to find a provider in your county.