Teen & Adolescent Mental Health | Palm Beach County
When “I’m Fine” Stops Feeling Reassuring.
A teenager can keep going to school, laughing with friends, earning good grades, and smiling in photos while quietly struggling with depression, anxiety, bullying, or questions about where they belong.
If something feels different, you do not have to wait for a crisis to take a closer look.
Private-pay psychiatric evaluations and personalized mental-health care for teens and families.
What Parents Often Notice First
You know your teen. You also know when something has changed.
The signs are not always dramatic. Sometimes they appear as small changes that begin happening more often.
- Spending more time alone or keeping the bedroom door closed
- Irritability that feels different from ordinary teenage frustration
- Losing interest in friends, sports, activities, or family time
- A sudden drop in grades or an intense fear of making mistakes
- Avoiding school, social events, meals, or conversations
- Sleeping all day, staying awake most of the night, or always feeling tired
- Frequent headaches, stomachaches, panic, or requests to stay home
- Becoming unusually secretive about friendships or social media
- Repeating phrases such as “I don’t care,” “I’m tired,” or “It doesn’t matter”
- Changes following bullying, rejection, a breakup, or conflict with friends
One sign does not automatically mean that something is wrong. A pattern of changes, especially when it interferes with school, relationships, sleep, or daily life, deserves a closer look.
Your teen may not have the words yet. Their behavior may be telling you that something needs attention.
What Your Teen May Be Carrying Quietly
Distress does not always look the way parents expect.
Depression & Low Mood
Teen depression may appear as irritability, numbness, exhaustion, withdrawal, declining motivation, or feeling disconnected from everyone around them.
Anxiety & Perfectionism
Anxiety may look like constant overthinking, school avoidance, panic, stomachaches, emotional shutdowns, or an intense fear of disappointing someone.
Bullying & Cyberbullying
Bullying can follow a teenager home through group chats, social media, rumors, exclusion, and anonymous messages. Its emotional effects may continue long after the phone is turned off.
Identity, Belonging & Self-Worth
Questions about appearance, friendships, sexuality, identity, popularity, achievement, and belonging can become overwhelming. Teenagers deserve a safe place to understand what they are feeling without judgment.
Depression and anxiety in teenagers can overlap with the patterns we describe on our depression and low mood and anxiety pages.
Why Early Attention Matters
Parents should not have to wait for a crisis before asking for help.
39.7%
of U.S. high school students reported persistent sadness or hopelessness in the 2023 CDC Youth Risk Behavior Survey.
20.4%
seriously considered attempting suicide during the previous 12 months.
9.5%
reported at least one suicide attempt during the previous 12 months.
19%
reported being bullied at school in 2023, an increase from 15% in 2021.
Sources: CDC 2023 Youth Risk Behavior Survey · CDC 2023 YRBS Results · CDC National Center for Health Statistics
In 2023, suicide was the second-leading cause of death among Americans ages 10 to 14 and 15 to 24.
These numbers are not here to frighten families. They are here to make one thing clear: you do not need to wait until a teenager is in crisis before taking a meaningful change seriously.
If You Are Concerned About Immediate Safety
This practice does not provide emergency or crisis services. If your teenager is in immediate danger, cannot remain safe, or is experiencing current suicidal intent, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.
Call or text 988 for free, confidential crisis support available 24 hours a day.
Call or Text 988A More Complete Picture
A thoughtful evaluation looks beyond one symptom.
Teenagers are more likely to speak honestly when they feel respected rather than examined. The evaluation creates space for both the parent’s concerns and the teenager’s experience.
An evaluation may include:
- A detailed review of mood, anxiety, sleep, focus, relationships, school functioning, bullying, social media, trauma, and substance use
- Developmental, medical, psychiatric, and family history
- Time for the teenager to speak privately
- Parent or caregiver observations
- Evidence-based screening for depression, anxiety, and safety concerns
- Review of medications, supplements, sleep, nutrition, and relevant physical symptoms
- Laboratory testing when clinically indicated
- A diagnostic impression and personalized treatment plan
- Medication management when clinically appropriate
- Therapy, group support, lifestyle guidance, or outside referrals when indicated
- Communication with therapists, pediatricians, and school professionals with appropriate written authorization
- A safety plan when clinically necessary
Teenagers need privacy to speak honestly. Parents also need to understand how care is progressing. Confidentiality and its safety-related limits are explained clearly at the beginning of care so that everyone knows what to expect.
You can read more about how an initial assessment is structured on our psychiatric evaluation service page or review all concierge psychiatric services.
What Happens Next
A calm, clear place to begin.
01
Start With a Parent Consultation
A complimentary introductory call allows a parent or guardian to share concerns privately and determine whether an evaluation may be an appropriate next step.
02
Complete the Teen Evaluation
The evaluation considers the teenager’s symptoms, history, school functioning, relationships, physical health, family context, and safety.
03
Receive a Personalized Plan
Recommendations may include psychotherapy, parent guidance, medication management, laboratory testing when clinically indicated, school collaboration, or referrals to other professionals.
For School Counselors & Educators
A private referral option for families who may need more support.
Families may be referred for psychiatric evaluation when a student is experiencing persistent changes in mood, anxiety, attendance, sleep, focus, peer relationships, school functioning, bullying-related distress, or safety concerns.
With written authorization, care may be coordinated with school counselors, therapists, pediatricians, and other professionals involved in the teenager’s care.
- Board-certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner
- Fully bilingual in English and Spanish
- Private-pay concierge care
- Psychiatric evaluations and medication management
- Parent consultation before evaluation
- Coordination with schools when authorized
- Telehealth availability where clinically and legally appropriate
- Serving Palm Beach County and surrounding communities
Please do not include diagnoses, medications, symptoms, or other private health information in a standard email.
Phone: 561-668-4128
Email: care@myrootcausenp.com
Parent Resource
When “I’m Fine” Isn’t the Whole Story
A Parent’s Guide to Teen Depression, Anxiety, Bullying and Emotional Safety
This practical guide is being created to help parents recognize meaningful changes, begin difficult conversations, respond without pushing their teenager away, and understand when professional support may be needed.
- Changes parents should pay attention to
- How depression and anxiety may appear in teenagers
- Bullying, cyberbullying, rejection, and social pressure
- Questions that encourage conversation rather than shutdown
- When to seek professional help
- When a situation requires immediate safety support
- How to prepare for a psychiatric evaluation
Common Questions From Parents
What parents often want to know before calling.
How do I know whether this is normal teenage behavior?
One difficult day or one argument does not necessarily indicate a mental-health condition. Pay attention to changes from your teenager's usual behavior, how long the changes have lasted, how intense they are, and whether they are affecting school, sleep, relationships, activities, or safety.
Will I be involved in my teenager's care?
Parents and guardians are an important part of adolescent care. The evaluation includes parent or caregiver input while also providing appropriate private time for the teenager. Confidentiality and its safety-related limits are discussed before care begins.
What if my teenager does not want an evaluation?
A parent consultation can help you think through how to introduce care without making the teenager feel punished, blamed, or forced into a conversation they do not understand.
Does every teenager receive laboratory testing?
No. Laboratory testing is considered only when the clinical history or physical symptoms suggest that a medical factor may be contributing. Testing is individualized and may involve coordination with the teenager's pediatrician or other medical professionals.
Do you prescribe medication to teenagers?
Medication may be considered when clinically appropriate after a comprehensive evaluation. Recommendations may also include psychotherapy, parent guidance, school support, lifestyle changes, safety planning, or referrals to other specialists.
Can you communicate with my teenager's school or therapist?
Yes, when clinically appropriate and with the necessary written authorization. Communication may help the professionals supporting your teenager understand the treatment plan and relevant recommendations.
Do you accept insurance?
The Root Cause NP is a private-pay practice and does not accept or bill insurance. Fees are explained before care begins, and eligible patients may request a Good Faith Estimate of expected charges.
Is this an emergency service?
No. If your teenager is in immediate danger, cannot remain safe, or is experiencing current suicidal intent, call 911, go to the nearest emergency department, or call or text 988.
You Do Not Have to Wait for a Crisis.
If your instincts are telling you that something has changed, a private parent consultation can help you decide what to do next.
Complimentary 15-minute introductory call · Private-pay concierge practice serving Palm Beach County and eligible telehealth locations.
Serving families in Palm Beach, Wellington, Boca Raton, Delray Beach, Jupiter, Palm Beach Gardens, and surrounding Palm Beach County communities.
This website is not monitored for emergencies. If there is an immediate safety concern, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department. Call or text 988 for 24-hour crisis support.