Pediatric mental health at Dell Children's
Experienced pediatric mental health specialists at Dell Children’s Medical Center provide compassionate care for mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression, stress, attention deficit disorder (ADHD) and more. We also provide mental health care and support for children in the hospital with serious illness and chronic conditions. Dell Children’s Medical Center is the only hospital in the region that has an on-site pediatric mental health care team, with specialty care teams who deliver care for the whole child – physical and emotional health.
Specialized care for your child’s mental health
Parents are often the first ones to notice a change in a child’s mental health. When your child is experiencing changes that include concerning behavior, difficulty at school, not being able to sleep, emotional stress or anxiety, start by talking with your child’s pediatrician, school counselor or a pediatric mental health specialist. By seeking care for mental health concerns sooner, you can help minimize the impact in your child’s daily life. Your child’s doctor can help connect your family to the right care and specialists, from hospital care to counseling with a mental health professional.
If you think your child may be in a mental health crisis and may harm themselves or others, please call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. From the ER, doctors and care teams connect your child with the right follow-up or hospital care.
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Conditions we diagnose and treat
- Adjustment disorders
- Agoraphobia
- Anxiety
- Attention deficit disorder (ADHD)
- Autism spectrum disorder
- Bipolar disorders
- Body dysmorphia
- Brief psychotic disorder
- Catatonia
- Conduct disorder
- Conversion disorder (functional neurological system disorder)
- Delusional disorder
- Depression
- Disinhibited social engagement disorder
- Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder
- Eating disorders (anorexia nervosa, binge eating disorder, bulimia nervosa, pica and restrictive eating)
- Excoriation disorder (skin picking disorder)
- Intermittent explosive disorder (explosive aggressive outbursts)
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Oppositional defiant disorder
- Neurodevelopmental disorders
- Panic disorder
- Phobias
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Reactive attachment disorder
- Rumination disorder
- Schizoaffective disorder
- Schizophrenia
- Schizophreniform disorder
- Schizotypal disorder (a mild form of schizophrenia)
- School avoidance
- Selective mutism
- Self-harm behaviors and suicidal ideation
- Somatic symptom disorder (extreme focus on physical symptoms)
- Trichotillomania (hair pulling disorder)
Advanced therapeutic care
Each appointment starts with a conversation. Tell us your concerns and ask us your questions. Your child’s doctor may recommend diagnostic evaluations and assessments to help diagnose your child’s condition. Then, we create a treatment plan that helps improve your child’s mental health and well-being. Your child’s care plan may include a combination of advanced outpatient and inpatient treatment options to meet your child’s specific needs:
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (talk therapy)
- Dialectical behavioral therapy
- Expressive therapy
- Family therapy
- Group therapy
- Individual therapy
- Inpatient and partial inpatient therapy
- Medication management
- Multi-family skills group
- Parent-child interaction therapy
- Parent support groups
- Teen-only skill building and coaching
When your child is receiving mental health care in the hospital, they benefit from the expertise of many specialists at Dell Children’s. We also work with your child’s referring doctor and specialists in your child’s community and school. This multidisciplinary team approach delivers all the support and care your child and family needs.
A full range of behavioral and mental health care
Dell Children’s provides a full range of pediatric mental health care – from outpatient clinic programs to partial and full inpatient hospital programs.
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Emergency care
Quickly recognizing the signs that your child is experiencing moderate to severe mental or emotional distress is the first step in getting necessary care. For emergencies, including severe mental health distress and suspected substance overdose, call 911. ERs at our hospitals, including at Dell Children’s Medical Center, are open 24/7. Find a location.
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Inpatient hospital care
The Grace Grego Maxwell Mental Health Unit is the only pediatric mental health unit in Central Texas that is connected to a children’s hospital. Specialists and care teams provide advanced inpatient and partial inpatient care for children ages 6-17 with serious mental health concerns that need immediate treatment. Our goal is to bring children back to a level of safety and stability so they can return home as quickly as possible. The average stay to receive mental health care is 7 to 8 days. Your child is cared for by a multispecialty team including psychiatrists, therapists, social workers, nurses and behavioral health professionals. When your child no longer needs inpatient care, your child is transitioned to partial inpatient care or outpatient care at Dell Children’s. Your child’s care team connects you to ongoing care and support to keep your child healthy and prevent the need for another hospital stay. A referral is needed to schedule an appointment. For more information about Grace Grego Maxwell Mental Health Unit or to schedule an assessment, please call 512-324-0029.
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Intensive outpatient care
The intensive outpatient program is five weeks long and is designed for high school-aged teens who need a higher level of care than traditional outpatient care. If your child is showing symptoms such as self-harming behavior, anxiety, depression, family relationship concerns, impulsive or explosive behavior, talk with a mental health specialist. Our goal is to help your child learn communication skills, anger management, positive coping methods, and behaviors that promote healthy family relationships. Your child can participate in a range of therapy options, including family and group therapy. This program meets during the week in the evenings. To learn more, please call 512-324-9999 ext. 88517.
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Outpatient care
If your child needs ongoing mental health care or is undergoing care for or facing diagnosis of a chronic illness, ask your doctor about a referral to experienced specialists at the Texas Child Study Center. We provide outpatient care at our clinic for emotional, behavioral and developmental health concerns. Your child’s specialists start by listening to better understand your child and their needs. We work closely with you and your child to develop an individualized care plan and adjust it as needed. And we connect you to supportive community resources. We deliver a range of therapeutic care – from individual and family therapy sessions to medication management. For more information about the Texas Child Study Center, please call 512-324-3315.
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Partial hospitalization care
The partial hospitalization program is designed for teens ages 14-17 who need a higher level of care than outpatient care. If your child is showing symptoms associated with anxiety disorders, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), bipolar disorder, depression, self-harm or suicidal thoughts, despite previous treatment, they may benefit from partial inpatient care. Your child will be cared for by a pediatric psychiatrist and other pediatric mental health specialists. We work together to provide care for your child until they are ready to transition into our intensive outpatient care – usually about three weeks. To learn more, please call 512-324-9999 ext. 88517.
Multidisciplinary care teams
Mental health specialists are part of multispecialty teams at Dell Children's Medical Center and in our clinics around Central Texas. We work with pediatric specialists in gastroenterology, neurology, sleep medicine, cancer care and more to deliver comprehensive care for children and teens.
Refer a patient to a pediatric mental health specialist
Your patients can expect compassionate, personalized care from the moment our specialists connect with them. Our specialists start by listening to fully understand their needs and to develop an individualized care plan. To make a doctor referral, please call.
- Inpatient mental health care – 512-324-0029
- Partial hospitalization mental health care – 512-324-9999 ext. 88517
- Intensive outpatient mental health care – 512-324-9999 ext. 88517
- Outpatient mental health care – 512-324-3315
Child Psychiatry Access Network (CPAN) for providers
CPAN is a network of access centers providing pediatric behavioral and mental health consultations and training opportunities for pediatricians and primary care doctors. We provide consultations for doctors serving children who live in Central Texas (Bastrop, Blanco, Burnet, Caldwell, Coryell, Fayette, Hamilton, Hays, Lampasas, Lee, Mills, Travis and Williamson counties).
CPAN provides consultations for registered primary care doctors. Doctors may call 1-888-901-2726 to consult with a pediatric behavioral and mental health specialist within 30 minutes of their call. During the call, you may ask about symptoms, mental health assessments, psychiatric medications and referrals.
This program is in partnership with The University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School.
If you think your child may be in a mental health crisis and may harm themselves or others, please call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.