Child psychiatrists work with children and adolescents in various contexts, including private practice, agencies, and hospitals. They diagnose mental health problems, create treatment plans, and may prescribe medication or provide therapy. They may also testify in court or conduct research on new treatments.
Child psychiatry represents a very small percentage of psychiatrists, but these physicians have specific work that takes place in a variety of contexts. Child psychiatrists can treat children and adolescents. In this capacity, he or she does many different types of work with children under the age of 18 that help with a range of mental health issues.
The child psychiatrist’s work environment can partially inform the type of work. Psychiatrists may have a private practice in a community or work for agencies designed to help families or children in crisis, such as child protective services. Some psychiatrists also have training in forensic medicine and may work in the court system, on behalf of children or for the state. There are mental health wards that cater specifically to children, and many professionals work in one of these facilities to help children who are in need of acute care or who have chronic mental health problems.
In any of these capacities, the child psychiatrist can begin to work as a diagnostician, determining the exact nature of mental health problems. These professionals can derive a treatment plan, which often includes administering appropriate medications. When treatment is started, the patient often needs medication adjustment, and the child psychiatrist can determine medication changes or dosages based on the client’s behavior and often in conjunction with conversation with family members or guardians. Finding the right medication and dose can lead to follow-up sessions with the children as time goes on to ensure the treatment is still appropriate; As children grow and change, they may routinely require dosage changes and often need careful monitoring.
Especially in any form of private practice, interaction with parents/guardians becomes part of the child psychiatrist’s job. Children are not always able to articulate their problems or issues, so building rapport with watchful parents can help guide treatment. On the other hand, sometimes parents are not a good resource or are not available, and this would mean that the child psychiatrist could collect data on response to treatment from personal observation. In hospital environments, part of this observation may be the responsibility of other health professionals.
Treatment observation can be more extensive if the child psychiatrist not only prescribes medication but also provides therapy. Not all of these specialists work as psychotherapists, but some do. In circumstances where child psychiatrists only prescribe medication, they may work with parents and other mental health professionals, such as marriage and family therapists, licensed clinical social workers, and psychologists, who are the primary sources of therapy for the child.
Other jobs for the child psychiatrist may include testifying in court about a child’s mental fitness. Alternatively, psychiatrists could review and write reports and recommendations about the placement in custody of children who have been previously hurt by parents or guardians. Some psychiatrists research or work on developing new treatments for children and may not treat patients regularly.
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