Behavioral Health

Behavioral Health

What is Behavioral Health?

The term Behavioral Health encompasses many components that contribute to overall health and well-being. Patients experiencing the following concerns may benefit from Behavioral Health care. The process for diagnosing Behavioral Health concerns may begin with the child’s primary pediatrician and often requires additional care by specialists in the community.

what-is-behavioral-health2.png

evaluating-bh-concerns---landscape4.png


Allegro Pediatrics is here to support you and your child in all aspects of their growth and development.

Your child’s behavioral health is important to their overall health. We welcome the opportunity to assist your family in evaluating common behavioral concerns such as challenging behavior in toddlers and children, academic concerns, attention and concentration concerns, and mood disorders such anxiety and depression. 

Behavioral or emotional concerns are often distressing for your child and your family. Please start the evaluation by scheduling an appointment with your child’s primary care provider to discuss your concerns. We will do our best to ensure that you can meet with your child’s primary care provider for the initial appointment and any follow-up visits. This consistency not only allows the provider to have a greater sense of your child’s overall health and history, but more importantly, provides a familiar, caring guide for your child when dealing with complex emotional concerns. Please read our guide on The Process of Evaluating Your Child for Academic and/or Behavioral Health Concerns in order to prepare for your child's initial behavioral health visit. There is no easy blood test to diagnose behavioral conditions, so identifying and treating these conditions will require several appointments, ongoing follow-up, and potentially a referral to a specialist.

If your child is prescribed a medication for behavioral health, it will be especially important to follow up with the same provider for medication refills. Specific appointment monitoring requirements will vary depending on the type of medication and your child’s diagnosis. In additional to your child’s recommended monitoring schedule, Allegro requires that all patients on long-term medications are seen in person for a Well Child Check-up once a year by their Primary Care Provider (PCP). We offer a combined Well Child Check-up + Med Check that will allow these two appointments to be done more conveniently, in one visit to our clinic. Please read our Behavioral Health Prescription Refill Guidelines handout for more information on medications prescribed for ADHD, anxiety, depression, or other behavioral health concerns.

If you are new to our practice, please make a check-up appointment to establish primary care with an Allegro provider. This check-up allows us to make sure there are no other medical problems which may influence the behavioral symptoms you are seeing. This is also the start of a journey to better health with a provider that your child can learn to trust. We do not accept patients for behavioral treatment who are receiving their primary care outside of Allegro Pediatrics.

Crisis Management & Immediate Resources

We know that the COVID pandemic, online school, political strife, and any number of personal issues are contributing to a significant rise in anxiety, depression, attention, academic and sleep concerns for our patients. An appointment with your pediatrician is appropriate if you want to talk to your trusted provider about a new concern or a chronic issue. Research has shown that a mental health therapist can be the first line of treatment for many issues. It can take some time to find one, so it is often a good idea to start that process now. 


In person:

  • Go to Seattle Children's Emergency Room

If you need a mental health professional to come to your home during a crisis:

By phone & text:

Local Resources

We recommend Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) or Interpersonal Therapy (IPT): Evidence-based help and skill training for depression/anxiety for children and teens.


To narrow your search:

  1. Washington’s Mental Health Referral Service: (833) 303-5437, Mon to Fri, 8am-5pm
  2. Contact your Employee Assistance Program
  3. Contact your insurance company
  4. Search: www.psychologytoday.com and sort by your insurance + location + child/teen + CBT/IP
  5. Search: www.multiculturalcounselors.org and sort by the ethnicity a counselor identifies as + language + religion + location

Childhaven

Compass Health

Crosspath

Eastside Psychological Associates

  • Woodinville, Snoqualmie, Issaquah | (425) 458-5048 | Visit Website

Friends of Youth

Insight Mental Health Group

Joon Care Therapy

Northshore Youth & Family Services

River Valley Psychological Services

  • Issaquah: (425) 391-0887 | Renton: (425) 228-5336 | Visit Website

Ryther

Seattle Children’s

Snohomish Psychology Associates

Sound Health

  • King County | (206) 302-2300 | Visit Website                                            

Youth Eastside Services

Allegro Pediatrics - Behavioral Health Resources

From the Community - Behavioral Health Resources

Open on weekends and holidays...I don't think you can find a better pediatric clinic on the eastside! - Julie

We met with Dr. Wu at the Totem Lake clinic when we were expecting our first child, and knew she’d be a great fit for us. She’s been so wonderful as our family has grown, caring for both of our girls through all the ups and downs.  -Megan

…I'm sure they see babies all day, but they always seem to have a smile and enthusiasm for all those boring well-baby check questions. -Laura

Dr. Graham is amazing! My boys actually get excited to go to the pediatrician. -Sarah

We have a one-year-old boy and could not be more pleased with the doctors, nurses and admin staff. Everyone is eager to help, understanding to first-time parents and so amazing to the kiddos they treat. Also...who can beat an office that can get you in 365 days a year? -Makenna

I spent 8 months researching every pediatric facility in Washington to find the best doctor for my first born. This place had the highest rated doctors and best reviews. 19 years later, we still come here to see our pediatrician, Uncle Donald. Yes, we adopted our pediatrician into the family…wonderful place and people.  -Jen