Child and adolescent psychiatry has long been one of the most underserved specialties in New York City. Wait times at in-person clinics can stretch for months, geographic access varies dramatically by borough, and the stigma around seeking psychiatric care for children continues to prevent many families from reaching out at all. In 2026, Mount Behavioral Health is working to change this picture through an expanded telehealth model that brings board-certified child psychiatrists directly to families across New York — including those in Staten Island who have historically faced the greatest access barriers.
Understanding Child and Teen Psychiatric Care
Child and adolescent psychiatry is a specialized field that focuses on diagnosing and treating mental health conditions in young people from early childhood through the transition to adulthood. Unlike general adult psychiatry, child psychiatrists are trained to understand how brain development, family dynamics, school environments, and social relationships interact with a child's emotional and behavioral wellbeing. Common conditions treated include anxiety disorders, major depressive disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder, bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and trauma-related conditions.
Mount Behavioral Health (https://mountbh.org/) offers comprehensive child and adolescent psychiatric services through a telehealth platform, allowing families to connect with specialists without the logistical barriers that have historically made access difficult. Their clinicians conduct thorough psychiatric evaluations via secure video, using standardized assessment tools and structured clinical interviews to arrive at accurate diagnoses and develop individualized treatment plans.
What to Expect From a Psychiatric Evaluation
For many families, the first psychiatric evaluation can feel daunting. Not knowing what to expect is often the biggest barrier to scheduling one. At Mount Behavioral Health, the process is designed to be transparent and collaborative from the very first contact.
The evaluation typically spans one to two sessions. In the first session, the psychiatrist meets with both the child and the parent or guardian to gather a comprehensive history: the child's developmental milestones, school performance, social relationships, family background, sleep patterns, appetite, and any previous diagnoses or treatments. The second session focuses on spending dedicated time with the child, using age-appropriate conversation, play-based approaches for younger children, or more direct dialogue with adolescents. At the end of the evaluation, the psychiatrist shares their findings and recommendations in clear, understandable language and works with the family to develop a path forward.
Medication Management for Children and Teens
When medication is recommended as part of a treatment plan, Mount Behavioral Health's psychiatrists approach it carefully and conservatively. They believe in the lowest effective dose and the most targeted intervention, always in combination with therapy and family support rather than as a standalone solution.
Medication management appointments are conducted via telehealth on a regular schedule — typically monthly at the start of treatment, then spaced out as the child stabilizes. During these appointments, the psychiatrist reviews how the medication is working, listens for any side effects, checks in about school and social functioning, and adjusts the plan as needed. Parents are always included in these conversations, and adolescents are encouraged to be active participants in decisions about their own care.
Expanding Access in Staten Island
Staten Island families seeking child psychiatric care have often been told the same thing: there are no providers accepting new patients nearby, or the waitlist is six months or more. Mount Behavioral Health's child psychiatry services in Staten Island (https://mountbh.org/locations/staten-island) address this directly by offering telehealth evaluations and ongoing psychiatric care to families across Richmond County, with no need to cross a bridge or board a ferry.
The same quality of care available to families in Manhattan is now accessible to a teenager in Great Kills or a child in Port Richmond — scheduled around school dismissal times, accessible from a family's living room, and delivered by psychiatrists who understand the community context of the borough.
Getting Connected
Families ready to explore psychiatric care for their child can reach Mount Behavioral Health through their website. The intake process is straightforward and can typically be completed within a few days. Most major insurance plans are accepted, and the team is experienced in working with families whose children have never seen a mental health provider before. For NYC families in 2026, the door to quality child psychiatric care has never been more open.
