There is no doubt that growing up can be an emotional rollercoaster for many young people, and it can be difficult for a parent or carer to identify when a child’s behaviour is related to a mental health condition, and when they may need specialist help & support. Youngsters can face a whole host of highs and lows during childhood and adolescence, as well as a wide range of unique pressures which can be related to school, friends, family, bullying, cyberbullying, social media, peer pressure, sexuality and puberty. Young people may struggle emotionally and engage in unhealthy behaviours, and a proportion may go on to develop persistent mental health problems such as anxiety, depression, stress and eating disorders.

For more information on the process for entering treatment with us, please click here.

Children's mental health treatment at Priory

Our exceptional young people’s treatment team at Priory is comprised of highly skilled child psychiatrists, psychologists, therapists and other mental health professionals, many of whom are published experts in their field. Priory’s specialist team, coupled with our extensive national network of mental health hospitals and wellbeing centres, mean that we are extremely well-placed to deliver world class treatment, in a location that is convenient for you.

All of the treatment provided as part of our Young People’s Services is flexible, and can be tailored to each patient’s specific requirements and personal circumstances. We offer:

A range of treatment programmes that can be either scaled up or scaled down according to the intensity of the support that is required. These include:

• Outpatient treatment programmes (typically one hour per week)
• Day care programmes
• Inpatient treatment programmes

Therapy delivered in a number of different formats including:

• 1:1 therapy
• Group therapy
• Family therapy
• Online therapy

Tried and tested therapy types including:

• Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
• Eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR)
• Psychodynamic therapy
• Play therapy
• Dietetic input, supported meals, food exposure interventions and body image workshops for eating disorders in particular

We are also able to offer a range of assessments for young people, including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autistic spectrum disorders (ASDs) and sensory assessments, as well as specialist educational assessments such as the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC).

Support for parents and children worrying about going to school

Child and adolescent psychiatrist, Dr Hayley van Zwanenberg, provides useful information and support for those worrying about the situation surrounding children returning to school. Hayley offers advice on how to reduce anxiety in children, amongst other tips for all the family to cope better during this very difficult time.

It is important to recognise that mental health difficulties don’t just affect adults; in fact, they are becoming increasingly common in children and young people. Recent studies suggest that nearly one in four young people will experience the symptoms of a mental health condition before they reach the age of 19.

However, young people, parents and caregivers don’t have to struggle alone; expert psychiatric support for children and adolescents is available, and the most crucial first step is to seek specialist treatment. At Priory, our exceptional Young People’s Services are dedicated to providing the best possible mental health support for children and young people. We provide a comprehensive range of evidence-based therapy programmes, which are personalised according to each individual’s unique needs and requirements. We provide access to leading experts in child and adolescent psychiatry, and our highly skilled teams operating within our extensive national network of hospitals and wellbeing centres, offer the highest quality young people’s support available.

Children and teenagers can sometimes find discussing issues with a clinician much easier than discussing them with a parent, and our clinicians are well-practised in helping young people to feel comfortable enough to open up about their thoughts and feelings. Our expert Priory clinicians will be able to provide clarity regarding whether there is a mental health condition present or not, and deliver specialist support to the young person and their families. Early intervention is key to reducing the likelihood of mental health symptoms in young people developing into something more serious. Priory offers access to affordable assessment and treatment, enabling a young person to get back on track, overcome their mental health difficulties, and resume the healthy, happy and fulfilling childhood that they deserve.

For more information on the treatment that we offer for mental health conditions and eating disorders in young people, please view our approach to mental health treatment and approach to eating disorder treatment pages.