It is really painful to see your child going through the extreme ups and downs of their mood. But when these mood swings impact your child's school, friends, and family life, it becomes very difficult to stay calm and wait for the solutions. You need help in understanding your child's mental health condition.

In case you think your child has bipolar disorder, deciding on a psychiatrist will probably be the most significant choice that you will make. A wrong diagnosis leads to bad treatment; hence, it can negatively impact your child's growth. Therefore, it is the presence of a real specialist, not just any psychiatrist, that is of great importance to the welfare of your child.

Here you will discover how to locate and choose a pediatric psychiatrist who is an expert in bipolar disorder. What questions to ask, what qualifications to look for, and how to understand your legal rights as a parent in California.

How Waiting for Care in California Impacts Your Child

Finding a child psychiatrist in California is difficult, especially when your child needs help urgently. According to research from the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), the state faces a severe shortage of psychiatrists trained to work with children. Many counties simply don't have enough child psychiatrists to serve your child and others like yours.

Many counties lack adequate child psychiatrists, which creates what experts call a "ghost network." In this situation, your insurance company lists doctors as available, but when you call to schedule your child's appointment, they don't return your calls or say they're not accepting new patients. This is frustrating because your child needs help now, not months from now.

Here's what most California parents don't know: you have legal protections. According to the California Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC), you have specific rights to timely mental health care for your child. Your state created these protections to help families like yours access mental health treatment quickly:

Why a General Psychiatrist Isn't Enough for Your Child

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) highlights important differences between pediatric and adult bipolar disorder. Adults typically go through clear episodes of mania and depression that last for weeks or months. However, your child is more likely to have rapid cycling, with mood changes several times a day. Your child may also have mixed states, high energy and irritability at the same time as sadness. These cycles are different from the patterns a general psychiatrist usually sees in adult cases.

Because this condition is so complex, you need a doctor who has expert training in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Although experts call this additional training Board Certification and it reflects extra years of focused education on how your child's brain develops and how psychiatric medications affect children differently than in adults. When you choose a psychiatrist for your child, make sure the Board Certification is your first preference.

Why Bipolar Disorder Gets Confused with ADHD

One of the most important reasons for you to choose a specialist is the risk of an incorrect diagnosis. Bipolar disorder and ADHD have a lot of similarities, so the diagnosis of your child may be confusing. Both situations could lead to an impulsive, hyperactive child with a short attention span who speaks excessively. If your child exhibits these behaviors, only a specialist can distinguish which disorder your child has.

However, their treatment pattern are very different. A child with bipolar disorder that hasn't been recognized, stimulant medicines that are used to relieve symptoms of ADHD may bring about a manic episode. So it is essential for your child's safety that the diagnosis be made correctly from the very beginning.

Only a specialist can make a differentiation. They search for the absolute signs pattern that distinguishes the disorder in your child's case:

How Telehealth Helps Your Child Access Top Specialists

California is a large state, and it is quite impossible that there are no qualified specialists in your immediate area. Telehealth is the solution to this problem for your family. For example, if you live in a remote area or a county without child psychiatrists, telehealth enables your child to consult with a top specialist without the need for a long journey.

Questions You Should Ask Your Psychiatrist

How Your Insurance Rights and Coverage Options Work

The first thing that parents should do before looking for a child's psychiatrist is to check out their insurance coverage. Many parents refrain from taking their children to a doctor due to a lack of money. But California law is on your side, and you probably have more coverage than you think.

What California's SB 855 Means for Your Child's Coverage

California has a law that requires your insurance company to handle your mental health treatment in the same way as your physical health. This is referred to as "parity". So, what does this mean for your child:

The insurance company that covers your child cannot refuse treatment because it is "too expensive" for them to cover. They are not allowed to restrict your child's visits to psychiatry more than they restrict physical health visits. They cannot require your child to use a cheaper treatment if they want to get a specialist. Your child's mental health care should be under the same conditions as your child's physical health care.

How to Find Out What Your Insurance Will Cover

Before your child's first visit, you need to figure out what the insurance will cover. Here's what you should do:

1. Call your insurance company and ask if their plan covers a pediatric psychiatrist. Write down the name of the representative and what they tell you.
2. Ask about your co-payment for a psychiatrist's visit. Different insurance plans may require different co-payment amounts. Some might be as low as $20, while others could be $50 or more. Make sure you know that amount before you go.
3. Find out whether the psychiatrist must be a network provider or whether the company will cover an out-of-network provider. Network providers are those with whom the insurance company has an agreement, which lowers your costs. Out-of-network providers are those with whom the insurance doesn't have an agreement, so costs are higher.
4. Ask whether your insurance plan requires prior authorization before your child can see a psychiatrist. Pre-authorization means the visit needs to be approved by the insurance company beforehand. Get this approval in writing.
5. Inquire about the yearly deductible for mental health services. A deductible is the amount you must pay before the insurance starts helping. For example, if your deductible is $1,000, you pay that amount first, then the insurance covers the rest.

In-Network and Out-of-Network Coverage

An in-network psychiatrist has an agreement with your insurance company. In most cases, it indicates less spending on your part. For example, the child might have a $30 copay per visit.

An out-of-network psychiatrist does not have an agreement with your insurance. You may end up paying a hefty sum out of your own pocket. However, in California law, if your insurance company can not provide you with a psychiatrist in the network within 15 working days, they are obliged to pay for a visit to a psychiatrist out of the network at the rate of a visit in-network. Therefore, the law is safeguarding you against hefty bills.

What If Your Insurance Denies Coverage?

At times, your insurance company may refuse to cover your child's psychiatry. This event is called denial. However, you can use your rights in the following ways:

1. Kindly request your insurance company to provide a written explanation of the denial: "Why did you deny my child's coverage?" Make sure that you get the reason in writing.
2. Inform your insurance company: "I disagree with this decision and I am appealing it." You are allowed to challenge their answer "no".
3. Send an appeal along with your child's psychiatrist documentation. The psychiatrist can assist you in writing it.
4. In case your appeal is rejected, you may lodge a grievance with the California Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC). Their number is 1-888-466-2346 or visit dmhc.ca.gov.

Many parents win their appeals. Sometimes insurance companies' denials are illegal. Fight for your rights.

What If You Don't Have Insurance or Can't Afford It?

Suppose you don't have insurance or cannot afford it due to financial constraints. Try the following options:

Frequently Asked Questions

Authored By

Shebna N Osanmoh I, PMHNP-BC

December 2, 2025

Shebna N Osanmoh is a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner with extensive experience across the mental health spectrum. Holding a Master’s in Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing from Walden University, Shebna provides compassionate, culturally sensitive care for a wide range of mental health conditions, emphasizing holistic and individualized treatment approaches to support patients in their wellness journey.