CHILD, ADOLESCENT & YOUNG ADULT MENTAL HEALTH IN COLORADO
Support for growing minds, big feelings, and life transitions.
Thoughtful psychiatric evaluation and future medication management for children, teens, college students, and young adults navigating ADHD, anxiety, depression, mood changes, trauma, school stress, executive functioning, identity development, and major life transitions.
Psychiatric services anticipated July 2026 following licensure, credentialing, and applicable regulatory requirements.
Children
Big emotions, anxiety, attention concerns, sleep struggles, school stress, and family transitions.
Adolescents
Identity, friendships, mood, motivation, perfectionism, social pressure, and emotional overwhelm.
College + Launching
Independence, burnout, relationships, executive function, direction, and life transitions.
DEVELOPMENTALLY INFORMED CARE
Children and young adults do not always have the words for what they are feeling.
Mental health concerns in kids, teens, and young adults can show up as irritability, shutdown, defiance, school refusal, stomachaches, headaches, perfectionism, panic, sleep changes, mood swings, low motivation, risky behavior, or changes in friendships and family connection.
At Welch Psychiatric Group, care is designed to be warm, practical, collaborative, and developmentally appropriate. We help families understand what may be happening beneath the behavior and what kind of support may help.
WHO WE HELP
Mental health support across childhood, adolescence, and early adulthood.
Children
Support for attention concerns, anxiety, emotional outbursts, sleep problems, school stress, behavioral changes, and family transitions.
Teens
Care for anxiety, depression, ADHD, mood shifts, irritability, perfectionism, social stress, identity development, trauma, and school pressure.
Young Adults
Support for independence, college stress, executive functioning, relationships, burnout, panic, identity, motivation, and life transitions.
BEHAVIOR IS COMMUNICATION
Sometimes “acting out” is actually a child saying, “I need help, but I do not know how to ask.”
We look beyond surface behavior to understand emotion, development, environment, safety, sleep, school, relationships, stress, and nervous system patterns.
WHAT WE EVALUATE
Common concerns we help families and young adults understand.
ADHD + Executive Function
Attention, impulsivity, emotional regulation, organization, task initiation, routines, time management, homework, and follow-through.
Anxiety + Panic
Worry, avoidance, perfectionism, school refusal, panic attacks, stomachaches, headaches, social anxiety, and reassurance-seeking.
Depression + Low Motivation
Low mood, irritability, withdrawal, numbness, fatigue, loss of interest, sleep changes, appetite changes, and hopelessness.
Mood Changes
Irritability, emotional intensity, mood swings, impulsivity, decreased need for sleep, agitation, or depression requiring careful assessment.
Trauma + Stress
Hypervigilance, nightmares, avoidance, emotional shutdown, anger, fearfulness, sleep disruption, body symptoms, or behavior changes after stress.
School + Life Transitions
School pressure, college adjustment, identity development, family changes, friendships, social media stress, performance anxiety, and independence.
COMMON SIGNS
When daily life starts feeling harder for your child, teen, or young adult.
Every age looks different. A child may become clingy or explosive. A teen may withdraw or become irritable. A young adult may seem overwhelmed, avoidant, disconnected, or unable to keep up.
Signs support may be needed:
- Big emotional reactions or frequent meltdowns
- School refusal, declining grades, or difficulty completing work
- Constant worry, panic, perfectionism, or avoidance
- Low motivation, withdrawal, sadness, or irritability
- Sleep problems, appetite changes, headaches, or stomachaches
- Difficulty with focus, organization, routines, or follow-through
- Social changes, isolation, friendship stress, or identity concerns
- Risk-taking, impulsivity, safety concerns, or major behavior changes
THE DIFFERENCE MATTERS
Kids and young adults are still developing, so diagnosis should be thoughtful.
Anxiety, ADHD, depression, trauma, autism, sleep disruption, learning differences, family stress, grief, substance use, social stress, and mood disorders can overlap. A careful evaluation helps clarify what is happening before deciding what support is needed.
Anxiety vs. ADHD
Worry can make attention worse. ADHD can create anxiety when school, tasks, or expectations feel overwhelming.
Depression vs. Irritability
Depression in children and teens may look like anger, shutdown, withdrawal, low motivation, or sensitivity.
Trauma vs. Behavior
Fear, hypervigilance, shutdown, defiance, or emotional reactivity may reflect nervous system protection.
Mood vs. Stress
Sleep changes, impulsivity, agitation, and mood shifts deserve careful assessment before treatment decisions.
OUR PROCESS
A collaborative approach built for growing minds.
Comprehensive Evaluation
We review symptoms, development, school performance, sleep, family history, medical concerns, stressors, strengths, and goals.
Diagnostic Clarity
We explore ADHD, anxiety, depression, trauma, mood disorders, learning differences, sleep concerns, and other contributing factors.
Family Collaboration
Parents, caregivers, teens, and young adults all bring valuable perspectives that help create a more complete understanding.
Treatment Planning
Plans may include medication management, therapy referrals, school accommodations, coping tools, sleep support, and follow-up care.
FOR PARENTS
You do not have to figure everything out alone.
Parenting a struggling child or teenager can feel overwhelming. Many parents spend years wondering whether behaviors are normal, whether they missed something, or whether they are doing enough.
Our goal is not to blame parents or children. Our goal is to better understand what is happening and help families move forward with greater clarity and confidence.
FOR YOUNG ADULTS
You are allowed to ask for support before you hit a breaking point.
Young adulthood can bring independence, pressure, uncertainty, relationships, academic demands, career decisions, and questions about identity and direction.
Mental health support is not a sign that something is wrong with you. It can be a tool for navigating a difficult season more effectively.
MEDICATION MANAGEMENT
Medication is one tool, not the entire plan.
Medication recommendations depend on age, symptoms, diagnosis, safety considerations, previous treatment history, medical concerns, family history, and patient goals.
For some children and young adults, medication can improve attention, emotional regulation, anxiety, depression, sleep, or daily functioning. For others, therapy, environmental changes, coping strategies, school support, or family interventions may be equally important.
Medication care may include:
- Discussion of risks, benefits, and alternatives
- Review of prior medication experiences
- Monitoring effectiveness and side effects
- Family education and support
- Collaboration with therapists and other providers
- Ongoing follow-up and adjustment when appropriate
CHILD, ADOLESCENT & YOUNG ADULT FAQ
Common questions from families.
What ages do you see?
Future psychiatric services are anticipated for children age 5 and older, adolescents, college students, and young adults.
Do parents attend appointments?
Parent involvement depends on age, developmental needs, and patient preferences. Collaboration is often an important part of treatment planning.
How do I know if my child has ADHD, anxiety, or something else?
Symptoms often overlap. Comprehensive evaluation helps clarify whether difficulties are related to ADHD, anxiety, depression, trauma, sleep concerns, learning differences, or another cause.
Do all children need medication?
No. Medication is only one treatment option. Recommendations depend on symptoms, diagnosis, severity, goals, and family preferences.
Can you help college students and young adults?
Yes. Young adulthood brings unique challenges involving independence, school, work, relationships, identity development, executive functioning, and life transitions.
What if we need help before July 2026?
If psychiatric care is needed before Welch Psychiatric Group psychiatric services begin, please contact your primary care provider, a local psychiatric practice, your insurance network, or emergency resources if safety concerns exist.
UNDERSTANDING THE WHY. FINDING THE WAY FORWARD.
Helping children, teens, and young adults feel understood.
Join the psychiatric waitlist for future child, adolescent, and young adult mental health services throughout Colorado.