Stedfast Psychiatry evaluates and treats children and adolescents for ADHD, anxiety, depression, mood disorders, OCD, behavior problems and related conditions, with minimum ages varying by provider from four and up. Care includes parent involvement, school collaboration, age-appropriate rating scales, careful medication choices and therapy, in person or by video in Florida and South Carolina.
Stedfast Psychiatry treats children and adolescents at offices across Florida and South Carolina and by video. Minimum ages vary by provider; some of our clinicians see children from age four, others from adolescence. We match your child to a clinician who works with their age group at scheduling. Parents are part of every treatment plan.
Who it is for
We see children and teens with attention and hyperactivity problems, anxiety (separation, social, generalized, school refusal), depression and irritability, mood swings that raise a question of bipolar disorder, OCD and tics, trauma reactions, oppositional and defiant behavior, autism spectrum disorder with co-occurring anxiety or ADHD, eating concerns and sleep problems. We also see teens who are already on medication from a pediatrician and need a specialist to take over, and families who have been told their child "might have" something and want a real evaluation.
A pediatrician referral is welcome but not required. Many families come to us after a school has raised a concern, after a 504 or IEP meeting, or after a frightening comment about not wanting to be alive. If your child or teen is in immediate danger, call or text 988 or go to the nearest emergency department; for everything short of that, call us and we will find a prompt appointment.
How it works
A child or adolescent evaluation runs 60 minutes or more and is structured differently from an adult visit. The clinician typically meets with the parent and child together, then with the parent alone, then with the child or teen alone, because each will say things they will not say in front of the other. We take a developmental history (pregnancy, milestones, early temperament), a school history, a family psychiatric history, and a medical history. Rating scales are completed by parents and, where attention or behavior is the concern, by teachers: the Vanderbilt for ADHD, the SCARED for anxiety, the PHQ-A for adolescent depression, the CY-BOCS for OCD. Teens complete self-report versions.
School collaboration is part of the evaluation and of ongoing care. With your written permission we request teacher ratings, review report cards and any psychoeducational testing, and provide documentation to support 504 plans or IEP accommodations. We also explain to parents what accommodations are reasonable to request. For attention problems in particular, a diagnosis of ADHD requires evidence of impairment in more than one setting, so school input is not optional.
Treatment follows the diagnosis and the evidence for the age group. For childhood anxiety and OCD, CBT with parent involvement is first line, with an SSRI added for moderate to severe cases. For adolescent depression, therapy and, when needed, fluoxetine or escitalopram, the two antidepressants with FDA approval in adolescents. For ADHD, behavioral parent training for younger children and stimulant medication from age six, with non-stimulant options for children who do not tolerate stimulants. Medication in children is started at low doses and followed closely, with height, weight, blood pressure and heart rate tracked at every visit.
About 1 in 6 US children aged 2 to 8 has a diagnosed mental, behavioral or developmental disorder, and ADHD, anxiety and behavior problems are the most common diagnoses in children aged 3 to 17.
Source: CDC, Data and Statistics on Children's Mental Health
Half of all lifetime mental illness begins by age 14 and three quarters by age 24.
Source: Kessler et al., Archives of General Psychiatry, 2005
In the Treatment for Adolescents with Depression Study, combined fluoxetine and CBT produced a 71 percent response rate at 12 weeks, compared with 61 percent for fluoxetine alone and 43 percent for CBT alone.
Source: TADS, Journal of the American Medical Association, 2004
Nearly 1 in 5 adolescents reported seriously considering suicide in 2021, underscoring the need for early evaluation and treatment.
Source: CDC Youth Risk Behavior Survey, 2021
What to expect
The first visit is long and involves a good deal of paperwork; completing the intake forms and rating scales through the portal in advance helps. Bring report cards, any prior testing, school communications and a list of current medications. Both parents are welcome; if parents are separated, we ask that the parent with legal authority to consent attend and we are glad to share information with both where the custody arrangement allows.
Follow-ups are every two to four weeks while a medication is being started or adjusted, then every one to three months. Children on stimulants are seen at least every three months, with growth and vital signs checked each time. Therapy, when part of the plan, is weekly. Video visits work well for teens and for medication follow-ups; younger children usually do better in the office, where the clinician can observe play and behavior directly. Parents have access to the portal for questions between visits.
Benefits
- Clinicians who work with children and adolescents, matched by age group
- Separate time with parent and child so each is heard
- Age-appropriate rating scales from parents and teachers
- School collaboration, including 504 and IEP documentation
- Stimulant prescribing with growth and cardiovascular monitoring
- Therapy and medication coordinated in one practice
- In person at 13 offices or by video in Florida and South Carolina
Risks and side effects
Psychiatric medications in children require specific care. All antidepressants carry an FDA boxed warning about increased suicidal thinking in patients under 25 during early treatment; the absolute risk is small, the benefit for moderate to severe depression and anxiety is well established, and we manage the risk with close early follow-up and clear instructions to parents. Stimulants reduce appetite and can slow growth modestly, raise heart rate and blood pressure, and affect sleep; we track height, weight and vitals at every visit, use drug holidays where appropriate, and screen for cardiac history and family history of sudden death before starting. Stimulants are controlled substances and we prescribe them under the policies described on our medication management page.
Atypical antipsychotics, used for severe irritability in autism, tics or mood disorders, cause weight gain and metabolic changes in children more than in adults and require lab monitoring. Non-medication risks include mislabeling a child whose problem is environmental, which is why we take the family and school history seriously before diagnosing anything.
Cost and insurance
Child and adolescent psychiatric evaluation, medication management and therapy are covered by most commercial insurance plans under the child's behavioral health benefit. Florida Medicaid and South Carolina Medicaid coverage varies by provider and location; ask our front desk which clinicians participate. Your cost is the plan's specialist or behavioral health copay or coinsurance. Some plans require a pediatrician referral; we check at verification.
The self-pay rate for a new-patient evaluation is $185, with lower rates for follow-ups and therapy. Teacher rating scales, school letters and 504/IEP documentation are included in the cost of care; lengthy custom reports for schools or courts may carry a separate fee that we quote in advance. Labs are billed by the laboratory.
The conditions we see most in children and teens
ADHD is the most common referral, followed by anxiety in its several forms, depression in adolescents, and disruptive behavior. OCD and tic disorders often appear together in childhood. Autism spectrum disorder is usually diagnosed elsewhere by a developmental pediatrician or psychologist, but the anxiety, ADHD and irritability that accompany it are frequently treated by us. We also see adolescents with early signs of bipolar disorder, with eating disorders that need medical coordination, and with trauma histories.
How childhood symptoms differ from adult ones
Depression in a child often shows as irritability, somatic complaints, falling grades and withdrawal rather than stated sadness. Anxiety shows as school refusal, stomachaches, tantrums at separation, or perfectionism. ADHD in girls is more often inattentive than hyperactive and is frequently missed until the demands of middle school expose it. Trauma can look like ADHD. Sleep deprivation can look like anything. Part of our evaluation is simply sorting these out, which is why we insist on history from more than one setting.
Treatment principles
Start with the least invasive effective treatment. For most childhood anxiety and for mild depression, that is therapy, with parents trained to support it. For ADHD in children under six, that is behavioral parent training before medication. When medication is needed, use the agents with the best pediatric evidence: methylphenidate and amphetamine products for ADHD, fluoxetine and escitalopram for depression, sertraline and fluoxetine for anxiety and OCD. Start low, go slow, measure, and monitor growth and vitals. Review the need for each medication at every visit rather than renewing by habit.
Confidentiality with teens
Adolescents need to be able to speak privately for treatment to work, and parents need enough information to keep their child safe. We explain the rules to both at the first visit. What a teen tells us stays private unless it involves danger to themselves or others, in which case we tell the parent and the teen knows we will. This is standard practice in adolescent medicine and it is what makes teens willing to tell us the truth.
Schools, 504 plans and IEPs
A 504 plan provides accommodations (extended time, preferential seating, breaks) for a child with a diagnosed condition that affects learning. An IEP provides special education services for a child whose disability requires specialized instruction. We provide the diagnostic documentation schools require for either and will describe the accommodations we believe are appropriate. We do not perform the psychoeducational testing that schools or private psychologists conduct for learning disabilities, but we read it, use it and refer for it when it is needed.
When to call
If a school, pediatrician or your own instinct says something is off and it has lasted more than a few weeks, call. If your child has said anything about not wanting to live, call today, and if there is an immediate plan or means, use 988 or the emergency department first. Early treatment changes the trajectory of childhood mental illness, and waiting rarely makes the picture clearer.
Frequently asked questions
What is the youngest age you see?
It depends on the clinician. Some Stedfast providers see children from age four; others see school-age children from six or seven; some see adolescents only. When you call, our scheduling team will match your child to a clinician who works with their age group and, where relevant, their specific concern.
How are parents involved?
Closely. Parents attend the evaluation, provide history and rating scales, help make treatment decisions, and for younger children carry out much of the therapy at home. We meet with parents separately as well as with the child. For teens we balance parental involvement with the teen's need for some privacy, and we explain to both what is and is not confidential.
Will you work with my child's school?
Yes, with your written permission. We request teacher rating scales for ADHD and behavior evaluations, review prior testing, provide letters to support 504 plans and IEPs, and will speak with school counselors or psychologists when it helps. Evidence of impairment in more than one setting is required for an ADHD diagnosis, so school input matters.
Are stimulants safe for children?
Stimulants have been used in children for decades and are among the best-studied medications in pediatrics. Common effects are reduced appetite, sleep disturbance and modest effects on growth, which we monitor at every visit. We screen for cardiac risk before starting. The risks of untreated ADHD, including academic failure, injuries and later substance use, are substantial, and treated ADHD lowers them.
Do antidepressants cause suicidal thoughts in teens?
The FDA boxed warning reflects a small increase in suicidal thinking, not suicide, in early treatment in patients under 25. The benefit for moderate to severe depression and anxiety outweighs this risk for most teens, and we manage it with follow-up within one to two weeks of starting, clear instructions to parents, and therapy alongside. Untreated depression carries its own serious risk.
Can my teen be seen by video?
Yes, for patients in Florida or South Carolina, and many teens prefer it. Video works well for evaluations of adolescents, medication follow-ups and therapy. A parent must be present at the start of the visit for consent and may step out for part of it. Younger children generally do better in the office. Stimulant prescribing may require in-person visits under state rules.
Is child psychiatry covered by insurance?
Most commercial plans cover it under the child's behavioral health benefit, at the plan's copay or coinsurance. Medicaid participation varies by clinician and office. Self-pay is $185 for the evaluation and less for follow-ups. School letters and 504/IEP documentation are included; extended custom reports may carry a quoted fee.
What if my child refuses to come?
Common, especially with teens. Framing matters: this is a check-up for how you are feeling, not punishment, and the clinician will talk with you alone. Many reluctant teens engage once they realize the visit is about their experience rather than their behavior. If a child will not attend at all, we can start with a parent-only consultation and plan from there.
Where this treatment is offered
- Boynton Beach, FL
10301 Hagen Ranch Rd, Suite D720 and Suite B710 - Palm Beach Gardens, FL
11641 Kew Gardens Ave, Suite 209 - Stuart, FL
729 SW Federal Hwy, Suite 104 - Royal Palm Beach, FL
420 South State Road 7, Suite 112 - Jacksonville, FL
2950 Halcyon Lane, Suite 605 - Port St. Lucie, FL
266 NW Peacock Blvd, Suite 203 - Melbourne, FL
6300 North Wickham Road, Suite 110 - Fort Lauderdale, FL
3107 Stirling Road, Suite 107 - Jupiter, FL
3893 Military Trail, Suite 3 - Goose Creek, SC
118 Springhall Drive, Suites B and F - Lexington, SC
120 Brookside Parkway, Suite C - Bluffton, SC
25 Clarks Summit Drive, Suite F201 - Hilton Head Island, SC
19 Shelter Cove Lane, Suite 202
Conditions this treats
If you are in crisis, call or text 988 or go to the nearest emergency room. Educational content; individual results vary. Reviewed by Dr. David Husted, board-certified psychiatrist.