Outpatient Mental Health Care
CHKD offers a variety of outpatient mental health services in locations throughout the community. A referral from a primary care provider is required. The process typically begins with a clinical needs assessment and is then followed by group therapy, individual therapy, or psychiatric care.
Clinical Needs Assessment
Clinical needs assessments are performed by one of our mental health clinicians. This assessment helps us understand the specific concerns of each child and their family. Based on this assessment, we match each patient with the best services for their unique needs.
Outpatient Therapy
CHKD psychiatrists, psychologists, clinical social workers, and licensed professional counselors provide individual and group therapy throughout the region. After a clinical needs assessment, many children start with group therapy to begin the process of building skills and reducing symptoms. Once group therapy is complete, patients who require continued care may be offered individual therapy along with psychiatry services, if needed. Learn more about mental health therapy here.
Psychiatric Care
Board-certified child and adolescent psychiatrists and psychiatric mental health practitioners at CHKD offer psychiatric evaluations, treatment planning including medication management, and psychotherapy. Our psychiatrists and nurse practitioners use a biopsychosocial diagnostic model to deliver care that is evidence-based, patient-centered, and family-focused. Learn more about the psychology and psychiatry practice here.
Psychological Testing
Our pediatric and clinical psychologists provide psychological diagnostic assessment and testing to answer specific questions regarding diagnosis, to clarify strengths and weaknesses, and to determine pre and post-intervention needs. Our psychologists pay special attention to genetic, medical, developmental, educational, social, and family factors to assess and provide the best treatment plan for each patient.
Intensive Outpatient Program
CHKD’s intensive outpatient program is designed to provide evidence-based treatment to teens ages 13-18 (and still in high school) whose mental health condition or behavioral needs extend beyond weekly outpatient therapy sessions and would benefit from a structured after-school mental health program. The goal of the program is to improve quality of life and reduce symptoms by providing patients with tools to help manage and regulate their emotions. The program includes individual and group therapies, skills building, family engagement, and medication support when appropriate. A dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) curriculum is used. Upon successful completion of the program our intention is to transition patients back to care as usual with better skills in their toolkit, an understanding of how to take charge of their emotions, and to encourage health, healing, and hope. Learn more about our Intensive Outpatient Program here.
Program Schedule:
Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 4-7 p.m.
Location:
CHKD's Health Center at Landstown
1924 Landstown Centre Way, Virginia Beach, VA 23456
Bridge Crisis Clinic
The CHKD Bridge Crisis Clinic provides short-term mental health support for children and teens (ages 6–18) who are experiencing a mental health crisis but do not require inpatient hospitalization. The clinic offers rapid access to crisis-focused therapy, psychiatric evaluation, and safety planning while families wait for longer-term outpatient care. Services typically include 4–8 sessions aimed at stabilizing the child and connecting them to ongoing community resources. Families must be able to ensure home safety and participate actively in appointments. This program serves as a temporary “bridge” to help children stay safe and supported during a vulnerable time. Learn more about our Bridge Crisis Clinic here.
Partial Hospital Program (PHP)
The Partial Hospitalization Program provides intensive day treatment as a step-down from acute hospitalization or a step-up from outpatient services for children and adolescents who have high, but not imminent, safety concerns or a significant disruption to emotional, behavioral, or social functioning. Patients attend this program Monday - Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in a structured, therapeutic environment that offers individual, group, and family therapies as well as psychiatric management.
Refer to Our Mental Health Program