Children who struggle in school can face emotional and behavioral issues such as low self esteem, anxiety, depression and frustration. In addition, they need to deal with the array of issues faced by all young people in our complex world. Sometimes a parent, or a teacher, or even the child himself, will recognize that the support and intervention of a trained professional may be needed to deal with emotional or behavioral issues.

Professionals trained to provide this kind of support and therapy to children can include:

Psychiatrists – licensed physicians (M.D.) with medical training, able to write prescriptions for medication. Psychiatrists working with children should be board certified in Child Psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.

Psychologists – trained in a doctoral program in psychology (Ph.D.), these professionals are licensed by the State Education Department. They cannot write prescriptions for medication, although most will refer to a psychiatrist if medication becomes necessary.

Certified Social Workers (CSW) – these individuals have a Master’s Degree in Social Work (M.S.W.) as well as State certification.

There are substantial variations in the kinds of services that these mental health professionals offer. Some psychiatrists will only see patients for the purpose of prescribing medications and do not offer psychotherapy. Some psychologists focus on testing and evaluation but do not offer longer term treatment. And any of these professionals may prefer a particular therapeutic approach to their patients – such as cognitive therapy, behavioral therapy or psychoanalysis.

Before your child begins treatment with any mental health professional, a parent should:

• Be familiar with the credentials of the provider and the services he or she provides
• Check with your health insurance company to see if you are covered for this service
• Meet with the provider without your child to see if you feel they would be a “good fit” and to discuss fees, scheduling and how long treatment can be expected to take.