Pediatric mental health: Helping families manage psychiatric and psychological conditions

Growing up is tough. Your child may have trouble coping with a changing body or stress from peers, relationships or the environment. If you think your child may be dealing with mental health challenges, UW Health Kids Behavioral Health experts can help. We use counseling, medicines and coaching to help your child and family.

Programs and research

Personalized care programs

We use a variety of techniques to help your child confront and cope with emotional and behavioral difficulties as well as psychiatric and severe mental health challenges.

Conditions and treatments

Helping your child manage their mental health

We give you guidance and support so you can help your child. UW Health Kids experts are also available during your child’s hospital stay or when they are dealing with a chronic illness or traumatic injury. Our mental health team provides a full range of psychiatric and psychological services for kids.

Mental health conditions

UW Health Kids specialists evaluate and treat a wide range of mental health conditions in children.

  • Adjustment disorders

  • Alcohol abuse

  • Anxiety disorders

  • Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADD & ADHD)

  • Behavioral difficulties

  • Bipolar disorders

  • Cancer psychotherapy

  • Coping with chronic illness

  • Depression

  • Developmental difficulties

  • Drug abuse

  • Low self-esteem

  • Obsessive-compulsive disorder

  • Personality disorders

  • Sibling relationships

  • Schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder

  • Stress related to growing up, such as communication, peer and school pressure

Available treatments

Your child and your family receive support and treatment from our team of experts.

  • Assistance and counseling

  • Consultation and intervention services as you return home from the hospital 

  • Family education 

  • Individual and group psychotherapy

  • Managing stress 

  • Medication management

  • Psychological therapy and support 

  • Relaxation and coping strategies 

  • Support and counseling related to death and dying

  • Supporting your child’s development during a hospital stay

  • Supportive care after a traumatic injury or chronic illness

Locations

Pediatric mental health locations

We offer pediatric mental health care at specialized UW Health clinics in Madison.

Meet our team

Caring experts support your family

UW Health Kids experts in psychiatry, psychology and child development offer care and support for your child and family.

Our providers

Patient resources

Build your knowledge

Learn more about pediatric mental and behavioral health conditions and support from the experts at UW Health.

Helpful resources

We help young children and parents living with psychiatric and psychological conditions. Our experts offer specialized services for psychological, developmental and relationship disturbances in children under 6 years of age.

We teach children and young adults how to manage anxiety and pain by using healing images and the mind/body connection.

UW Health’s Dr. Marcia Slattery discusses anxiety in children. Listen to her conversation with Wisconsin Public Radio’s Larry Meiller.

Listen here

Learn how your child and family can take part in a mental health research study with the UW-Madison Department of Psychiatry.

Learn more