Adolescent Services — Rooted Minds Psychiatry
Ages 13–17

A space where teens
feel heard,
not managed

The teen years are some of the most complex — identity, pressure, relationships, and mental health all collide at once. We offer judgment-free psychiatric care that meets adolescents exactly where they are.

What brings teens
through our door

Adolescence is a high-stakes time for mental health. Many conditions first emerge in the teen years — and early, well-matched care makes a real difference.

ADHD

Teen ADHD often looks different from childhood ADHD — less hyperactivity, more disorganization, procrastination, and emotional dysregulation. We evaluate the full picture and support school, home, and social functioning.

Depression

Teen depression doesn't always look like sadness. It can show up as irritability, withdrawal, sleep changes, declining grades, or loss of interest in things they used to care about. We take it seriously at any level of severity.

Anxiety

From social anxiety and panic attacks to generalized worry and school avoidance, anxiety in teens is common and treatable. We help adolescents understand what's happening and develop real coping strategies.

Identity & Self-Esteem

The teen years are a critical time for identity development — including gender, sexuality, cultural identity, and self-worth. We provide affirming, non-judgmental care that meets each teen where they are.

Self-Harm & Crisis Support

We provide compassionate, non-shaming support for teens who are engaging in self-harm or experiencing suicidal thoughts. Safety planning, family coordination, and ongoing monitoring are all part of our approach.

Trauma & Adverse Experiences

Whether from childhood, family instability, bullying, or other sources, trauma shapes how teens think, feel, and behave. Our ACE-informed approach treats the whole context — not just the symptoms.

Signs a teen may benefit from an evaluation

  • Significant mood changes lasting more than a couple of weeks
  • Withdrawing from friends, family, or activities they used to enjoy
  • Declining grades or increasing school avoidance
  • Difficulty sleeping — too much or not enough
  • Talking about feeling worthless, hopeless, or like a burden
  • Signs of self-harm, including cuts, burns, or hiding their body
  • Increased irritability, rage, or emotional outbursts

What teens and parents often tell us

  • "I've been feeling off for a while but I don't know how to explain it."
  • "My parents think I'm just being a teenager. I don't think that's it."
  • "We've tried therapy. We want to understand if there's something biological happening."
  • "My kid shuts down any time we try to talk about how they're feeling."
  • "School is falling apart and I don't know where to start."
  • "I want my teen to feel like they have a say in their own care."

Care that respects
their autonomy

Teens are more likely to engage honestly when they feel safe and in control. Here's how we build that trust from the start.

What stays private

We explain confidentiality clearly to every teen at the first visit. What they share stays between them and us — with limited exceptions for safety. Teens need to know this before they'll open up.

How we involve parents

Parents are important partners — but we balance that with the teen's need for a safe space. We discuss what to share with parents with the teen directly, and involve them in ways that support rather than undermine trust.

The teen's voice matters

We always talk to teens directly — about what they're experiencing, what they want from care, and what they're willing to try. Their input shapes the plan. We don't make decisions about them without them.

How we care for
adolescents

Working with teens requires a different kind of attention — to developmental stage, to autonomy, and to the social world they're navigating.

Developmentally Appropriate

We understand that a 13-year-old and a 17-year-old are at very different developmental places. Our approach — including how we evaluate, communicate, and prescribe — reflects that.

Medication — Thoughtful & Collaborative

When medication is appropriate for teens, we discuss options clearly with both the adolescent and their family, monitor closely, and adjust based on real-world response — not just symptom checklists.

School Coordination

With the teen's and family's permission, we coordinate with school counselors, teachers, and IEP or 504 teams to make sure academic accommodations and support reflect what's actually going on clinically.

Strengths-First

We don't just look at what's hard. We help teens identify what they're already doing well and build from there — because a strengths-based frame is more motivating and more effective.

Services available
for adolescents ages 13–17

Every teen's care starts with a thorough evaluation. From there, we build a plan that fits their specific situation — at school, at home, and in their own life.

Psychiatric Evaluation

Our initial evaluations for teens are comprehensive and take the adolescent's perspective seriously. We meet with the teen individually and with the family, review relevant history, and use validated tools before reaching any clinical conclusions. The teen receives a direct, honest explanation of what we found and what we recommend.

60–90 min Teen + Family New Patients

ADHD Evaluation

Teen ADHD evaluations include rating scales from both the teen and their parents, clinical interview, academic history review, and direct assessment. We also look for co-occurring conditions — anxiety and ADHD, for example, frequently appear together in adolescents.

Ages 13–17 Co-occurring Conditions

Medication Management

When medication is part of the plan, we involve the teen in the decision. We explain what the medication does, what to watch for, and what success looks like — then follow up regularly to assess and adjust as needed.

Teen-Inclusive Ongoing Monitoring

Crisis & Safety Support

For teens experiencing suicidal thoughts or engaging in self-harm, we provide structured, compassionate crisis support — including safety planning, level-of-care assessment, and coordination with families and outside providers when needed.

Safety Planning Family Coordination

Follow-Up & Ongoing Care

Regular follow-up visits track progress, monitor medication, and stay responsive to what's changing in the teen's life. We stay flexible — school stress during finals is different from summer, and our care reflects that.

Flexible Scheduling Life-Responsive

You don't have to
figure it out alone

Coming to see a psychiatrist doesn't mean something is "wrong" with you — it means you're taking yourself seriously. A lot of teens who come here feel relieved just to have a space where someone listens without an agenda.

You get to have a say in your care. We'll explain what we're thinking, why, and ask for your input before we do anything. If medication comes up, we'll talk through it together — not just tell you what to take.

What you share here stays here. We'll explain exactly what's confidential and what isn't at your first appointment, so you know where you stand.

Book an Appointment
Generally, no. Confidentiality means what you share stays between us. There are a few exceptions — if you're in danger or someone else is — and we'll explain all of this clearly at the start so you know exactly what's private and what isn't.
No. Medication is one option, not a requirement. We'll talk through what might help and why. If medication is something we recommend, we'll explain the reasoning — and you have a say in whether you want to try it.
That's completely normal. You don't need to have it figured out before you come. Part of what we do is help you put language to what's going on. You can say as much or as little as you're comfortable with, and we'll work from there.
It's different from ongoing talk therapy. We're a psychiatric practice, which means we focus on evaluation, diagnosis, and medication management when needed. Many teens work with both a therapist and a psychiatrist — they complement each other well. If therapy is something you want, we can help connect you.

Helping your teen
without losing them

Parenting a struggling teen is hard — especially when they pull away. One of the most common things parents tell us is that they're walking a line between pushing for help and respecting their teen's resistance to it.

We work with both of you. Teens are more likely to engage when they feel their privacy is respected, so we balance family involvement with the teen's need for a safe space. We'll keep you informed about what you need to know without undermining their trust in the process.

We'll also talk with you about what to watch for at home, how to support progress without adding pressure, and when to escalate if things change.

Ask Us a Question
Resistance is common. It sometimes helps to frame an evaluation as information-gathering rather than treatment — "let's just find out what's going on" lands better than "you need help." It can also help to let them know the appointment is their space, not a reporting session to you. Feel free to call us before the appointment to talk through how to approach it.
Quite involved, especially at the start. We include parents in the initial evaluation and keep you informed about the overall care plan, medication decisions, and any safety concerns. As teens get older and more stable, the balance may shift — but you're always in the loop on what matters most.
Reach out to us. Self-harm is a signal that your teen is struggling and needs support — not a reason for punishment or panic. We can help you understand what's happening and what level of care is appropriate. If you believe your teen is in immediate danger, call 988 or go to the nearest emergency room.
Yes, and we encourage it. Psychiatry and therapy work better together. With your teen's consent, we're happy to coordinate with their therapist to make sure care is aligned and nothing falls through the cracks.

What to expect
step by step

01

Reach out

Contact us by phone, text, or the online portal. We'll ask a few quick questions to confirm we're the right fit before scheduling the first appointment.

02

Initial evaluation

A comprehensive first appointment with the teen and family. We spend time with the teen individually and together with parents to get the full picture.

03

Feedback & plan

We share findings directly — with the teen first, then together as a family. The teen is part of the conversation about what comes next.

04

Ongoing care

Follow-up visits keep care responsive. We adjust as the teen's life changes, coordinate with school when useful, and stay available when things shift.

Also serving:

Your teen deserves
care that takes them seriously

We're accepting new patients ages 13–17. Reach out to schedule an evaluation or ask questions first — no commitment required.