Adolescent PsychiatryIs Your Teenager Struggling - And Pulling Away?
Has your once-open teen grown withdrawn, irritable, or impossible to reach?
Are you worried about their mood, anxiety, sleep, or motivation, but unsure what’s “normal teen stuff” and what’s not?
Is school, social media, or social pressure clearly weighing on them in ways that scare you?
Do you suspect they need help, but worry they’ll never agree to see anyone?
Support for Parents
About 20%
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, about 20% of adolescents ages 12 to 17 experienced a major depressive episode in a recent year, with rates significantly higher for teen girls.1
Anxiety Is Widespread
Anxiety is widespread as well, and the adolescent years are a peak window for mental health conditions to first emerge.
By Age 14
Research shows half of all lifetime mental health conditions begin by age 14.2
By Age 24
Three-quarters of all lifetime mental health conditions begin by age 24.2
This means the teen years are not just a vulnerable time — they’re a pivotal one. The right support during adolescence can prevent years of unnecessary suffering and set your teen up to thrive into adulthood.
Parenting a struggling teenager can leave you feeling shut out and helpless. You see glimpses of pain behind the closed door or the short answers, and you desperately want to help — but the harder you reach, the more they seem to retreat. It’s exhausting, and it’s frightening.
With adolescent psychiatry that genuinely respects your teen, there is a way forward. Your teenager can feel understood rather than judged, and you can get the clarity and guidance you’ve been searching for.
Adolescent Mental Health Statistics
What You’re Seeing Is More Common Than You Might Fear
If you’re worried about your teen, please know how common this is.
Why Teens Need A Different Kind Of Care
Teenagers are caught between childhood and adulthood, and they know it.
They can spot a condescending adult instantly, and they shut down fast when they feel talked down to or dismissed.
Effective adolescent psychiatry has to earn their trust, meeting them with respect, honesty, and a little room to be themselves.
When a teen feels genuinely heard, everything changes.
Adolescent Psychiatry That Earns Your Teen’s Trust
From there, we move into a thorough evaluation of what your teen is experiencing, including:
Together with you and your teen, I build a plan that fits.
I talk with your teen, not at them. I take their perspective seriously, I’m straight with them about what I think, and I respect their growing need for autonomy, while keeping you, the parent, appropriately informed and involved.
That balance is delicate, and getting it right is one of the most important parts of adolescent psychiatry.
Medication and Whole-Person Care
When medication is appropriate, I prescribe thoughtfully and explain everything along the way. You can read about my conservative approach to medication management.
Because I’m also trained in counseling psychology, I bring a therapeutic, whole-person lens to concerns like teen depression and anxiety, rather than treating a teenager like a list of symptoms.
Meet Dr. Jared KiddoeI’m Dr. Jared Kiddoe, a double board-certified Child, Adolescent, and Adult Psychiatrist and the founder of Authentic Wellness.
My boutique practice means your teen gets longer appointments and care that doesn’t feel like a factory line.
As a Black, Christian, Caribbean clinician, I also understand the cultural and family dynamics that shape so much of an adolescent’s experience, and I welcome faith into the work for families who want it.
But You May Still Have Questions About Adolescent Psychiatry…
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This is incredibly common, and it’s workable.
Many reluctant teens soften once they realize I’m not there to lecture or punish them.
I’m happy to talk with you first about how to approach the conversation, and I work hard to make that first appointment feel safe rather than threatening.
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I balance your teen’s need for privacy with your need to keep them safe.
I’m transparent with both of you about how confidentiality works, and I’ll always loop you in on anything related to safety.
Teens open up more when they trust that balance is being honored.
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No. An evaluation is about understanding your teen first.
Medication is one possible tool among several, and when it’s right, we decide together.
My training as a therapist means I can offer more than a prescription.
Your Teen Doesn’t Have To Go Through This Alone
The teen years are hard, but your child doesn’t have to face them without expert, respectful support — and neither do you.
To begin adolescent psychiatry in Georgia or South Carolina, in person in Atlanta or by telehealth, please complete the New Client Inquiry form and we’ll reach out to help you take the next step.
What you need to know-
Authentic Wellness Group is a private-pay practice and does not participate with insurance plans. This allows us to make treatment recommendations based on your individual clinical needs rather than insurance requirements, while providing thoughtful evaluations and personalized psychiatric care.
Payment is due at the time of service. Upon request, we can provide a superbill that you may submit to your insurance company for possible out-of-network reimbursement. Reimbursement is not guaranteed, so we encourage you to contact your insurance provider directly to confirm your benefits.
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Psychiatric Intake - $500 - 90 minutes
30 minute follow up - $250
50 minute follow up. - $450
*Please inquire about pricing for longer or intensive sessions.
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Please note, Authentic Marriages requires 48 hours notice to cancel or reschedule a session otherwise a cancellation fee is charged at the rate of your full session fee.
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Our therapy services are designed for adults only, offered as individual therapy for adults navigating life's challenges and couples therapy for partners seeking to strengthen their relationship.
If you are looking for psychiatric care for a child or teenager, Dr. Kiddoe does provide psychiatric services for children and adolescents. Please don't hesitate to reach out — we're happy to help point you in the right direction.
Sources
National Institute of Mental Health — Major Depression
National data and statistics about major depressive episodes among adolescents.
View adolescent depression statisticsNIMH / Kessler et al. — Age of Onset
Research covering anxiety disorders and when mental health conditions commonly begin.
View anxiety and age-of-onset research