Teenager Needs Real Help

My son turns 15 next month and his anxiety has gotten so bad he won't leave his room most days. Therapy hasn't been enough and his regular therapist thinks medication might need to be part of the conversation now. She recommended we find a child psychiatrist who can do a proper evaluation. I've been putting this off because it feels like such a big step but I know he needs more help than what we're currently doing. Could really use some guidance on finding someone good.

I get why this feels huge — we went through something close when my cousin was 14 and his anxiety slowly shrank his world to just his bedroom. Starting meds sounded terrifying to his parents, but the psychiatrist framed it as one tool, not a life sentence, and that helped everyone breathe a bit. When searching, try to find someone who regularly works with teens and collaborates with therapists. This page actually helped us understand the process and what evaluations involve: child psychiatrist Orange County CA Taking the step is hard, but it often opens the door to real progress.