Child Health A-Z

Psychiatric Treatment Team

Who treats psychiatric disorders?

Mental health disorders are complex and require clinical care by a multidisciplinary treatment team. Team members may include, but are not limited to, the following:

child and adolescent psychiatrist
Child and adolescent psychiatrists are licensed physicians (M.D. or D.O.) who specialize in the evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of mental disorders in children and adolescents. Their medical and psychiatric training with children and adolescents prepares them to treat children and adolescents either individually, as part of and involving the family unit, and/or in a group setting. Child and adolescent psychiatrists can prescribe medications, if needed.
psychiatrist
Psychiatrists are licensed physicians (M.D. or D.O.) who specialize in the evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of mental disorders. Their medical and psychiatric training prepares them to treat adults and children either individually, as part of and involving the family unit, and/or in a group setting. Psychiatrists can prescribe medications, if needed.
psychologist
A licensed mental health professional (Ph.D. or Psy.D.) who specializes in the evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of mental disorders. Training prepares clinical psychologists to treat adults and children either individually, as part of and involving the family unit, and/or in a group setting. Psychologists also conduct cognitive, academic, and personality testing.
social worker (B.A., B.S.W., M.S., M.S.W.), licensed clinical social worker (LCSW)
A social worker (bachelors- or masters-level) often works with the child and family to reach the long- and short-term treatment goals, as established by your child's physician. A social worker may perform several forms of psychotherapy with your child and family, as necessary.
psychiatric nurse
A psychiatric nurse is a masters-level clinical specialist in psychiatric mental health nursing. A psychiatric nurse is educationally and clinically trained in psychopathology, individual, group, family therapy, and crisis intervention.