Child Psychiatry in Illinois

About child psychiatric clinicians in Illinois

Medication is not the first question most parents ask, and it should not be. Families usually get to this page after therapy has been underway for a while, or after an ADHD or anxiety diagnosis where a prescriber’s read is the piece that is missing. If you are here and uneasy about it, that is normal, and it is worth knowing that a first appointment is a long conversation, not a prescription pad.

The clinicians listed here are psychiatric prescribers licensed in Illinois. Most are psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners, which is who provides the large majority of pediatric psychiatric care in this country. A first visit covers developmental and medical history, what school is seeing, what you have already tried, family history, and sleep. Sometimes it ends in a medication trial with a set follow-up schedule and a clear list of what to watch for. Sometimes it ends in a recommendation to stay with therapy, change something at school, or rule out a sleep or thyroid problem first.

Prescribers here work alongside Emora therapists rather than in parallel to them, so nobody is asking you to carry messages between two practices. Visits are virtual and insurance is billed.

Clinical ReviewerDr. Jacquelyn Flood, PsyDLicensed Clinical Psychologist | Emora Health Clinical Reviewer

Child Psychiatry in Illinois: common questions

How much does child psychiatry cost in Illinois?

Emora is in-network with most major commercial plans, and with Medicaid in several states. Once your plan is applied, most families pay between $0 and $35 per session. You can check what your own plan covers before you book at /cost-estimate. There is no membership fee, and matching with a clinician is free.

What is the difference between a psychiatric clinician and a child therapist?

A psychiatric clinician is a prescriber. That means a psychiatrist or a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner who can diagnose, prescribe and manage medication, watch for side effects, and coordinate with your pediatrician. A child therapist provides talk or play therapy and does not prescribe. Many children do best with both. This page lists the prescribers. Emora therapists are on the child therapy and teen therapy pages for Illinois.

What ages do these prescribers work with?

This page lists prescribers who work with school-age children. Each provider card shows that clinician’s own age range. Prescribing for the youngest children is handled case by case and often starts with an evaluation rather than a medication visit, so if your child is very young, book a therapy or testing appointment first and the team will route from there. Adolescents are on the teen psychiatry page for Illinois.

How fast can we get a first psychiatry appointment?

Only prescribers who are accepting new patients appear here, and each card shows that clinician’s live openings. Many families book an initial evaluation within about 48 hours. Follow-up visits are shorter and usually get scheduled at the end of the first appointment.

Can medication be prescribed over a video visit, and does that include controlled substances?

Routine psychiatric medication can be prescribed and managed by video, and prescriptions go electronically to your pharmacy. Controlled substances, including the stimulants used for ADHD, are governed by federal and state rules that differ by state and change from time to time. Your prescriber will tell you at the first visit what is possible in Illinois. Emora does not prescribe without an evaluation.