To choose a psychiatrist for your teen in Los Angeles, look for a clinician trained to treat adolescents who completes a full evaluation first, explains every option and its risks, involves both you and your teen, and works closely with the therapist. At Blackburn Clinical Services, therapy and psychiatric care are coordinated so your family follows one plan.
Call (888) 870-7405
Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM. Parents usually make the first call.
Key facts
- A child and adolescent psychiatrist is a medical doctor with about four years of medical school, at least three years of general psychiatry residency and two more years focused on children and teens (American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Facts for Families No. 00, updated 2023).
- General psychiatrists and psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners also treat teens. Training with adolescents matters more than the title alone.
- A good first step is always a full evaluation, not a quick prescription.
- Most teens do best when medication, if used at all, is paired with therapy.
- Blackburn Clinical Services sees teens, young adults, adults and families. Call (888) 870-7405, Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM.
Who can prescribe medication for a teenager?
Several kinds of clinicians can evaluate a teen and prescribe when it is appropriate. They differ in training and in how much of their work is with young people.
- Child and adolescent psychiatrist (MD or DO). A physician with extra years of training in how mental health conditions show up in children and teens. The AACAP fact sheet on child and adolescent psychiatrists describes that path.
- General psychiatrist (MD or DO). A physician trained in adult psychiatry. Many see older teens and young adults well, especially when they have years of experience with that age group.
- Psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP). An advanced practice nurse trained in psychiatric assessment and medication. Some focus on families and adolescents.
- Pediatrician or family doctor. Often the first to treat common concerns. Many refer to a psychiatric specialist when the picture is complicated or the first plan is not working.
Psychologists and therapists do not prescribe in California, but they are often the people who notice that a medication evaluation might help. Our page on psychiatrist, psychologist or therapist explains each role.
What questions should parents ask before choosing?
Bring these to the first call or the first visit. The answers tell you a lot about how the care will feel week to week.
- How much of your practice is with teenagers?
- What does your first evaluation include, and how long does it take?
- Will you meet with my teen alone, with us, or both?
- How do you decide whether medication is a good idea at all?
- What non-medication options do you recommend alongside or instead of medication?
- How will you explain benefits, risks and side effects to my teen in words they understand?
- How often will follow-up visits happen at the start, and later on?
- Who do we call between visits if we are worried about a side effect?
- Will you talk with my teen’s therapist, and how often?
- With our written permission, will you coordinate with the school or pediatrician if needed?
- How do you handle privacy between my teen and me?
- What would make you suggest more support, or less?
What are the red flags?
No clinician is perfect, but some patterns are worth a second opinion.
- A prescription after a short visit with no real history taken.
- No plan for therapy, school stress, sleep or family support.
- No clear schedule for follow-up after a new medication starts.
- Your questions are brushed aside, or your teen is never asked what they think.
- No way to reach the practice when something changes.
Trust your sense of the room. A good prescriber welcomes hard questions and makes room for your teen’s voice.
How do psychiatry and therapy connect at Blackburn Clinical Services?
Many families come to us first for therapy. Teens meet one-on-one with a therapist, in our Venice Boulevard office or by secure video for clients located in California, and parents can join family sessions or have parent-only sessions of their own. When a therapist and family think a medication evaluation could help, psychiatric care can be arranged through Blackburn Clinical Services so the prescriber and therapist share one picture of your teen.
You can read more about our psychiatry services and medication management. If your teen needs more than weekly sessions, our concierge outpatient program adds more one-on-one hours without groups.
What should parents bring to the first appointment?
- A list of current medications and supplements, including anything stopped in the last year.
- Past evaluations, testing reports or hospital paperwork.
- Recent report cards, teacher notes, or any 504 plan or IEP.
- A short timeline of when things changed: sleep, mood, grades, friends.
- Family history of mental health conditions or substance use, as far as you know it.
- Your own questions, written down, so you do not forget them in the moment.
Our guide to what happens at a teen psychiatric evaluation walks through the visit itself.
What if this feels urgent?
If your teen talks about suicide or self-harm, do not wait for a new appointment. Call or text 988, the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, any time. If someone is in immediate danger, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
Frequently asked questions
Does my teen need a child psychiatrist or will a general psychiatrist do?
A child and adolescent psychiatrist has the most focused training with young people, and that matters most for younger teens and complex situations. Many general psychiatrists and nurse practitioners also treat older teens well. Ask how much of their practice is with adolescents and how they involve parents.
What questions should I ask at the first visit?
Ask how they decide whether medication is needed, what the risks and side effects are, how often follow-up visits happen, and who to call between visits. Ask whether they will talk with your teen’s therapist. Write your questions down beforehand so nothing gets lost.
Should my teen start therapy before medication?
For many teens with mild to moderate anxiety or depression, therapy is a common first step. For others, a medication evaluation early on makes sense. The right order depends on the evaluation, and the decision should be made together with you and your teen.
How often are follow-up visits?
It varies by teen and by plan. Visits are usually closer together in the weeks after a medication starts or changes, then spread out once things are stable. Ask for a clear schedule before anything begins.
Can my teen’s therapist and psychiatrist talk to each other?
Yes, with the right permission, and it usually helps. When the therapist and prescriber share what they are seeing, changes are caught sooner. At Blackburn Clinical Services, coordinating therapy and psychiatric care is part of how we work.
Talk with us about your teen
If you are trying to decide where to start, call Blackburn Clinical Services at (888) 870-7405, Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM. We will listen, explain your options and help you choose a next step that fits your family.