Finding a board-certified child and adolescent psychiatrist in California can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. The shortage is real and backed by data. Thousands of LA families sit on months-long waitlists or end up seeing general adult psychiatrists who lack the specialised developmental training kids and teens genuinely need. That clinical gap matters when you’re trying to help a 7-year-old with anxiety or a 16-year-old navigating OCD.

This guide walks you through five LA-area providers chosen for their verified child and adolescent psychiatric credentials in 2026. The list covers different practice models: rapid-access telehealth, small private clinics with fellowship-trained specialists, hospital-connected group practices, solo integrative doctors, and a massive nonprofit that’s been serving children since 1975. Each fits a different family situation, age range, and budget.

How to Select Top Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Providers in Los Angeles

Every provider below was evaluated against five clear benchmarks: board certification in child and adolescent psychiatry, fellowship training pedigree, range of clinical tools beyond pills alone, developmental focus on kids and teens (not just adults), and actual accessibility through insurance or affordable fee structures.

Here’s what mattered most:

  • Board certification in child and adolescent psychiatry – At least one psychiatrist on staff needed dual certification (child/adolescent plus general psychiatry), confirming training in both developmental and adult presentations.
  • Fellowship training at a major academic centre – Completing a child and adolescent fellowship at UCLA, USC, or Cedars-Sinai signals that the clinician has met the evaluation standards of a respected medical school programme.
  • Advanced clinical modalities beyond standard medication management – Practices offering TMS, ketamine therapy, exposure and response prevention (ERP) for OCD, neuropsych testing, or integrative medicine got higher marks for tackling complex cases.
  • Age range and developmental programmes – Providers with dedicated services for children as young as 2.5, school liaison programmes, or autism spectrum disorder (ASD) evaluation scored higher for child-focused care.
  • Insurance acceptance or transparent out-of-pocket costs – LA psychiatric care runs expensive; providers accepting major insurance, Medi-Cal, or providing superbills for PPO reimbursement made the list for serving families across income levels.

Monitoring Mental Health

List of the Strong Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Providers in Los Angeles

The five practices below cover the full spectrum of child and adolescent psychiatry in LA.

  1. Reimagine Psychiatry
  2. Ocean Bay Psychiatry
  3. Mental Health Center (Cedars-Sinai Medical Towers)
  4. Melissa Quinn, MD
  5. The Help Group

Strong Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Providers in Los Angeles

1. Reimagine Psychiatry

  • Launched in 2024 as a California-wide telehealth psychiatry practice led by Dr. Sham Singh, a board-certified psychiatrist who trained at UCLA, psychiatric evaluations happen within three days of first contact.
  • Sees teens and adults dealing with anxiety, ADHD, OCD, depression, PTSD, agoraphobia, panic disorder, and mood disorders through HIPAA-compliant video calls; bilingual clinicians speak English and Spanish.
  • Combines medication management with lifestyle coaching, supplement guidance, and genetic testing that pinpoints the right medication before writing the first prescription.
  • Accepts Aetna, Anthem Blue Cross, Blue Shield of California, ComPsych, and Meritain Health; zero in-person visits needed; treats patients anywhere in California.
  • Most people see noticeable symptom improvement within four to six weeks; the team uses standardised assessment scales to measure progress and fine-tune treatment over time.

Company Overview: Dr. Sham Singh launched Reimagine Psychiatry in 2024 to solve the access crisis LA teens face. His UCLA training plus board certification backs up the promise of a psychiatric evaluation within three days and ongoing medication management for anxiety, ADHD, depression, OCD, PTSD, and mood disorders. When local in-person waitlists stretch three months or longer, Reimagine’s same-week model gives families the fastest route to care on this entire list. Major insurers are accepted, and the genetic testing option personalises prescriptions from day one.

Best For: LA-area teens and families who need fast-access telehealth psychiatry for anxiety, ADHD, depression, or mood disorders through major insurance plans, skipping weeks-long in-person appointment waits.

Standout Feature: Board-certified evaluations completed in three days via telehealth, paired with genetic testing that guides medication choices before prescribing, the quickest psychiatry entry point in this roundup.

2. Ocean Bay Psychiatry

  • Started in 2020 by Dr. Francine Park (UC Davis undergrad, Loma Linda University MD, UCLA San Fernando Valley residency, USC child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship as chief fellow) and Dr. Meghan Jain (USC undergrad, SUNY Downstate Medical Center MD, UCLA San Fernando Valley residency, UCLA Harbor Medical Center child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship as chief fellow); both carry dual board certification in child/adolescent and general psychiatry.
  • Two locations in Santa Monica and Los Angeles; telemedicine reaches every corner of California; practice includes BIPOC and AAPI clinicians.
  • Runs on a fee-for-service model (no direct insurance billing) but provides detailed superbills for out-of-network PPO reimbursement; sees children, adolescents, and adults.
  • Blends evidence-based psychiatric recommendations with a psychodynamic lens, treatment plans factor in early development, family dynamics, school setting, and coordination with therapists and other healthcare professionals.
  • Treats ADHD, anxiety, depression, OCD, mood disorders, developmental concerns, and other psychiatric presentations in all age groups; medication management sits alongside evidence-based alternative interventions when appropriate.

Company Overview: Dr. Francine Park and Dr. Meghan Jain both finished their child and adolescent psychiatry fellowships as chief fellows at separate top-tier academic programmes (USC and UCLA Harbor). That dual distinction brings an unusually high level of peer-recognised training to a boutique Santa Monica clinic. The practice charges upfront but gives families full superbills for PPO reimbursement, and telehealth extends access to families anywhere in California. Having BIPOC and AAPI providers makes Ocean Bay a standout choice for culturally matched care.

Best For: LA families wanting a boutique child and adolescent psychiatry practice staffed by dual chief-fellow-trained, double board-certified psychiatrists, with statewide telehealth and BIPOC/AAPI clinician availability.

Standout Feature: Both founders completed their child and adolescent fellowships as chief fellows at major academic centres (USC and UCLA Harbor), a peer-recognised distinction rarely found in small private practice.

3. Mental Health Center (Cedars-Sinai Medical Towers)

  • Opened in 2011 by Dr. Ellie Mizani, MD (child and adolescent psychiatrist) and Dr. Mark Hrymoc, MD (addiction psychiatrist who also founded the Addiction Medicine Group); located at 8631 W. 3rd St., Suite 1100E, Los Angeles, CA 90048 inside Cedars-Sinai Medical Towers.
  • Team of subspecialty fellowship-trained psychiatrists covers child and adolescent psychiatry, adult psychiatry, mood disorders, addiction psychiatry, and geriatric psychiatry, self-described as “mental health treatment to a medical standard.”
  • Services span psychiatric evaluation and treatment planning, combined psychiatry and therapy, medication management, individual therapy, family therapy, ketamine therapy (delivered via IV, IM, or Spravato nasal spray), and telehealth; CBT, DBT, and psychodynamic psychotherapy are all offered.
  • Out-of-pocket practice (insurance not accepted); modalities include Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy plus a BYOP (bring your own psychotherapist) ketamine option.
  • Founded in direct response to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center closing its outpatient psychiatric services in 2012–2013, filling a documented care gap for child, adolescent, and adult mental health in the West LA area.

Company Overview: Dr. Ellie Mizani and Dr. Mark Hrymoc opened the Mental Health Center in 2011 to restore the outpatient psychiatry standard that disappeared when Cedars-Sinai shut down its clinic. The team brings together subspecialty fellowship training across child and adolescent, mood disorders, addiction, and geriatric psychiatry under one roof. The clinic calls its model “mental health treatment to a medical standard.” Services start at standard evaluation and extend to ketamine therapy, both IV and nasal (Spravato) routes are available, plus a BYOP ketamine option for people already working with a therapist.

Best For: LA families of children, adolescents, or adults seeking a fellowship-trained subspecialty group practice near Cedars-Sinai, with access to both traditional psychiatry and ketamine therapy at the same location.

Standout Feature: A multi-subspecialty psychiatric group covering child/adolescent, mood disorders, addiction, and geriatric psychiatry in one team, launched to bring back the Cedars-Sinai outpatient psychiatry standard to West LA families.

4. Melissa Quinn, MD

  • Holds triple board certification: dual American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN) credentials in psychiatry and child/adolescent psychiatry, plus a third board certification in integrative and holistic medicine through the Academy of Integrative Health and Medicine (AIHM) in La Jolla, California.
  • Completed USC adult psychiatry residency and internship; finished her child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center (2010–2012); earned a TMS fellowship at Duke University; received advanced training at UCLA’s Intensive Outpatient Program for Anxiety Disorders; holds BTTI certification through the International OCD Foundation (IOCDF).
  • Office at 10850 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 850, Los Angeles, CA 90024 (Westwood); offers in-person and telehealth appointments; treats children, adolescents, and adults.
  • Specialises in anxiety, OCD (including exposure and response prevention (ERP) and Rumination-Focused ERP), ADHD, depression, and postpartum depression; treatment tools include TMS (FDA-cleared, medication-free), ketamine infusion therapy, ERP, ACT, SPACE therapy, life coaching, mindfulness training, and nutraceuticals.
  • Accepts Blue Cross of California and Blue Shield of California, plus other major insurers; integrative treatment plans may include psychotherapy, psychiatric medication, lifestyle shifts, dietary changes, and nutraceutical support.

Company Overview: Dr. Melissa Quinn carries triple board certification, dual ABPN credentials in child/adolescent and general psychiatry, plus a third in integrative holistic medicine through the AIHM. Her Cedars-Sinai fellowship was followed by a dedicated TMS fellowship at Duke University. That combo gives her one of the broadest clinical toolkits on this list: standard medication management shares shelf space with TMS therapy, ketamine infusions, ERP for OCD, nutraceuticals, and life coaching, all within one Westwood practice. Blue Cross of California and Blue Shield of California are accepted.

Best For: LA families seeking a triple board-certified child and adolescent psychiatrist with an integrative approach, TMS, ERP for OCD, holistic interventions, in a Westwood private practice that accepts Blue Cross and Blue Shield.

Standout Feature: Triple board certification spanning child/adolescent psychiatry, general psychiatry, and integrative holistic medicine, one of the most diverse individual credential sets on this list, plus Duke University TMS fellowship training.

5. The Help Group

  • Founded in 1975, recognised as the largest and most far-reaching nonprofit of its kind in the United States serving children, adolescents, and young adults; employs 950-plus staff members; operates seven campuses across Los Angeles; holds CARF accreditation (Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities).
  • Runs nine specialised day schools enrolling 1,500-plus students pre-K through high school; mental health, therapy, and residential programmes reach 6,000-plus children and families every year; in 2023/2024, Child and Family Center programmes served 4,895-plus clients.
  • Child and adolescent focus areas include ASD (autism spectrum disorder) assessment and developmental evaluation starting at age 2.5; ADHD; learning disabilities; emotional and behavioural challenges; abuse and developmental delays; and LGBTQ-affirming programmes available.
  • The Help Group–UCLA Neuropsychology Program partners with the UCLA Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, delivering neuropsychological services to children, adolescents, and adults while expanding clinical research in ASD education and treatment.
  • Services range from outpatient mental health and school-based mental health at partner school sites to wraparound programme, full service partnership (FSP), therapeutic preschool (ages 2.5–5), after-school REACH programme (ages 5–12), residential programmes, vocational services, and Advance LA for young adults; accepts Medi-Cal.

Company Overview: The Help Group has been supporting children and families in Los Angeles since 1975 and holds the title of the largest nonprofit of its kind in the United States. It operates nine specialised day schools, seven LA campuses, and serves more than 6,000 children and families each year. CARF accreditation backs the quality standard, and a formal partnership with the UCLA Semel Institute for Neuroscience powers The Help Group–UCLA Neuropsychology Program. The continuum starts at therapeutic preschool for kids as young as 2.5 and extends through vocational programmes and young adult services. Medi-Cal is accepted across programmes.

Best For: LA families of children and adolescents with ASD, learning disabilities, ADHD, developmental delays, emotional challenges, or complex needs who need a full-service nonprofit with CARF accreditation and Medi-Cal acceptance.

Standout Feature: The largest nonprofit child and adolescent mental health organisation in the United States, combining nine specialised day schools, a UCLA Semel Institute neuropsychology partnership, and CARF accreditation in one LA-based organisation that accepts Medi-Cal.

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Factors to Consider When Choosing a Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Provider in Los Angeles

Confirm Board Certification, Specifically in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

A psychiatrist board-certified only in general adult psychiatry is not the same as one holding separate board certification in child and adolescent psychiatry. The second credential demands a dedicated fellowship focused on adolescent developmental stages, which becomes clinically meaningful when treating conditions in kids as young as two or three. Always ask whether the clinician holds separate board certification in child and adolescent psychiatry before booking an evaluation.

Match the Provider Format to Your Child’s Complexity Level

Telehealth psychiatry fits families whose teen needs medication evaluation and management for a straightforward diagnosis. A boutique private practice staffed by fellowship-trained specialists suits complex or treatment-resistant presentations. Large nonprofits with CARF accreditation serve children with ASD, developmental delays, or multiple co-occurring conditions needing school, residential, or vocational support.

Understand Whether the Clinic Coordinates With Schools and Therapists

Child and adolescent psychiatric care rarely works well in a vacuum. Providers who communicate with a child’s school, other treating clinicians, and family members as a coordinated team produce better results than those treating the child in isolated appointments. Ask prospective providers how they handle school liaison and coordination with existing therapists.

Clarify the Insurance Model Before the First Appointment

Some of the most clinically credentialled child and adolescent psychiatry practices in LA run on a fee-for-service model with zero direct insurance billing, instead offering superbills for out-of-network reimbursement. That model only makes financial sense if your PPO plan reimburses out-of-network specialist care. Confirm your plan’s out-of-network mental health benefits before committing to any out-of-pocket provider.

Consider the Age Range the Provider Actually Specialises In

Not every child and adolescent psychiatrist serves the full age spectrum equally. Some practices focus on adolescents but skip young children, while others run formal programmes for kids as young as 2.5 years old. Confirm whether the provider has documented experience with your child’s exact age group before scheduling an evaluation.

Final Thoughts

Start your search with a board-certified child and adolescent psychiatrist, not a general adult psychiatrist, because the fellowship training makes a real clinical difference for developmental presentations. Confirm this credential directly before scheduling.

Verify your insurance’s out-of-network mental health benefits before approaching any fee-for-service practice. Reimbursement rates vary wildly between plans and can shift the total out-of-pocket cost by thousands of pounds.

If your child or teen is currently in crisis or expressing thoughts of self-harm, contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (call or text 988) right away. In the event of immediate danger, ring 911.