Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Outpatient Care

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Raising a family is hard. Parents and children juggle school, work and family responsibilities as well as social relationships. And it seems that there are fewer resources to help.

If your child is struggling in school, feeling sad, acting too quiet, too loud, out of control or just not themselves - this may signal a problem. You may notice small changes, if any, that you or they cannot understand. These are all common reasons why people seek out mental health services.

We help children and families in crisis or struggling with complex diagnoses. We serve children from across New England, providing highly compassionate care in an innovative, patient and family-centered model. This includes partnerships with families, schools, primary care teams, state agencies and community partners,

Get Connected

Outpatient Services: Please visit our "get a referral" page. Referrals can be made by a parent, school, provider or a teen.

Services:

Integrated Services in Primary Care
Your child’s primary care center is often the best place to start for mental health needs.

Depending on your concerns, your PCP might refer or introduce you to a member of the integrated behavioral health team (care partners, integrated therapists or consult psychiatrists) for assessment, care navigation, coaching or brief treatment. They help understand your child’s health needs and may suggest medication or counseling. PCPs may also connect patients and families with mental health specialty teams outside of primary care for ongoing care.

During your primary care visit, your child may be asked about health risks like depression, anxiety, alcohol use, addiction and tobacco. This helps you connect them to services if and when they need. Learn more about this service.

Learn more about this service.

Not a Primary Care patient yet?
- Just call 617-665-1305 (CHA Doctor Finder Service) between 8:30 AM - 5 PM.
- Or email us using our easy web form
Substance Use Clinic
Kids with substance use issues who have actively used a substance within the past year have a place to turn to for help.

We offer substance abuse treatment services that follow evidence-based treatment models of psychotherapy and medication treatment.
Gender and Sexuality Program
It can be hard to find providers who understand the challenges faced by children who feel “different”. Children and teens often struggle when exploring their sexuality or when they realize their gender is not the one assigned at birth. At CHA, we are here to help. We are proud to serve sexual or gender minority (SGM) children, adolescents and their families.

Our program offers a “safe space” with LGBTQ+ affirming support for people to explore and/or discuss their sexuality and/or gender with professionals who care deeply about serving this community.

This program is for youth who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, gender non-conforming, queer/questioning or those who need help with the process of developing their identity (gender and sexuality affirmative treatment).

As experts in LGBTQ+ care, we relate to our patients. We understand the complex issues of sexual and gender identity and how this relates with culture, language, religion, family and social relationships.

In addition to working closely with patients and (when appropriate) families, we work with primary care teams and specialists to provide whole person care. This includes close collaboration with Pediatric Endocrinologists for young transgender patients who want medical treatment.

If you’d like a referral to the program, please speak with your primary care provider.
Short-term Evidence Based Treatment
This clinic is for children and adolescents with depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress and/or mild to moderate disruptive behavior.

This program helps youth who need short-term and limited therapy in a cognitive-behavioral model.
Recovery In Shared Experiences (RISE)
We provide comprehensive, recovery-oriented services to teens and adults (up to age 30) who are experiencing a first episode of psychosis, or have in the past three years. We also provide support for families of RISE patients.
Child and Adolescent Development
We provide evaluation and treatment for children and adolescents who come to us with neurodevelopmental difficulties.
Family Therapy
We partner with families to support them in meeting their own goals. We help parents, caregivers, and children use their strengths and resources to overcome or live better with individual, relational, and contextual challenges.

Outcomes include enhanced communication, connection, and problem solving that improve adjustment to life stressors.
Deaf and Hard of Hearing Clinic
Children who are deaf or hard of hearing can be seen by a Psychiatrist, Dr. Sanjay Gulati, who is also deaf and a national expert on language deprivation. Therapy and other clinical care is provided using sign language and expert interpreter services.

As part of this service, we provide clinical care at the Walden School for the Deaf.
School District Consultation Services
CHA contracts with the Cambridge school district to provide evaluations that assess how a student’s mental health challenges may impact their ability to learn and stay safe in the school setting.

Our staff also consult to the Bridge for Resilient Youth in Transition program at CRLS to help students transition back to school after health-related absences.

We also provide psychiatric consultation to the Everett school district.

Our Philosophy of Care

CHA is a leader in mental health care. Our staff genuinely and deeply care about children and their families during difficult times.

Our goal is to focus on children’s strengths and build on them. We get to know them, work to understand their needs and try to help them reach their fullest potential. We also use state-of-the-art research to inform our treatment plans.

With deep connections within the community, your child psychiatry team may recommend “wrap-around care” if your child needs it. Think of this like a big hug. Your child will get expert mental health care at CHA and beyond - helping them develop in a healthy way and giving them the tools to manage their emotions and any chronic health concerns.

Your Culture, Your Language

CHA is proud to serve patients from across the globe. That’s why we offer bilingual providers and interpreters in 75 languages, including patients who are deaf or hard of hearing. This awareness of cultural and language needs also makes mental health care more accessible for patients who may be hesitant to seek out these services.