University Health Behavioral Health (UHBH) provides caring, comprehensive mental health support for children and teens ages 3-21. Our team of child psychiatrists, child psychologists, therapists and counselors helps evaluate concerns and create personalized treatment plans for conditions such as ADHD, anxiety, depression, trauma, and behavioral challenges. Services may include therapy, medication support when appropriate, and close collaboration with families to help children succeed at home, in school, and in their communities.
Providers work with parents and caregivers to support the educational, emotional and behavioral needs of children and adolescents. The process begins by listening to parents’ or caregivers’ concerns and learning about the child’s behavior at home, school and other settings. This may include questions about routines, expectations, stressors, sleep, emotions and development. The provider often observes the child and uses questionnaires or behavior checklists to better understand patterns, such as when behaviors happen, what triggers them and what helps.
After identifying the underlying factors, the provider partners with families to create a clear, practical plan. This may include teaching parents or guardians about effective behavior strategies, like setting consistent limits, using positive reinforcement, improving routines and responding calmly to challenging moments. Children are also supported in learning skills like emotion regulation, problem-solving and communication. Providers check progress and adjust strategies as needed. The goal isn’t just to reduce difficult behaviors and emotional struggles but to help children build skills, strengthen family relationships, and support healthy emotional and behavioral development.
Outpatient services
Many of the children we treat face a range of challenges, including mental health conditions, emotional disturbances and behavioral issues. We help them cope with their feelings while helping them build confidence and self-esteem.
Treatment options may include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), exposure therapy and/or medication.
Child & Adolescent Psychiatry and Medication Management: Medications might be combined with therapy to treat some behavioral health issues.
Children who face stressful situations at home and school often experience delayed or arrested development. At University Health Behavioral Health, providers help children and adolescents of all ages move on with their physical, mental and emotional well-being, as well as academic development, for as long as it takes.
Family and social issues, combined with biological or genetic factors, all play a role in mental health issues affecting children, including mood and anxiety disorders, ADHD, Autism and anger control problems. This can result in the child struggling at school, home and with peers and family members.
During the course of treatment, our providers maintain close communication with parents, school and the individual patients. We combine medication and individual and family psychotherapy sessions tailored to the specific needs of each patient’s case. We follow patients, sometimes over the course of several years, to help ensure positive outcomes.
Child Psychiatry services are available at:
Child Therapy: We offer individual therapy to children and adolescents, usually on an outpatient basis.
When your child comes to therapy, we will help them find solutions to problems and identify their strengths.
The counseling will be tailored to the child or adolescent. For instance, we can help them:
- Work through problems, thoughts, behaviors and emotions
- Find new and better ways of coping with stress
- Establish good habits and healthy behavior boundaries
- Work through differences and improve loving relationships
- Overcome past trauma and build a stronger support system
Counseling services are available at:
Case Management and community programs available at our Crossroads location.
How to get help
- New clients seeking treatment can utilize walk-in hours at University Health Behavioral Health Crossroads located at 300 W. 19th Terrace in Kansas City, Monday - Friday from 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Each person who utilizes walk-in hours will be assessed by a master's-level mental health professional and connected to appropriate services.
- Please bring with you (if applicable/able) a photo ID, insurance card, guardianship paperwork, and birth certificate (for minors).
- For more information, call 816.404.5709 between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.
- To establish care at University Health Behavioral Health Lakewood Counseling located at 300 SE 2nd Street in Lee's Summit, please call 816.404.6170. Clinic hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
- Call the crisis hotline by dialing 988 if you are currently experiencing any kind of mental health crisis. A crisis expert will answer your call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and direct you to the right care.
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Children’s Services Fund of Jackson County provides funding to
University Health Behavioral Health mobile therapy services.