Does My Child Need a Psychiatrist? Signs to Watch For and How to Start
Does my child need a psychiatrist? Learn the signs that point to more than a phase, common childhood conditions, and what a first evaluation looks like.
Living on the Illinois side of the St. Louis area has a lot going for it, but finding psychiatric care close to home isn't always easy. If you've been searching for a psychiatrist in Edwardsville, IL, or anywhere in Madison and St. Clair counties, telepsychiatry with an Illinois practice is one way to get care without the drive. Here's how it works, who can be seen and how to get started.
Key takeaways
- Our Chicago-based team cares for Metro East patients by secure video from home. We don't have a local office.
- Our providers are licensed in Illinois, so you must be physically in Illinois during every visit.
- That means people in Missouri, including St. Louis city and county, can't be seen while they're in Missouri.
- We treat depression, anxiety, ADHD, bipolar disorder and more, for ages 4 and up.
- We're in-network with Aetna, BCBS PPO, UnitedHealthcare and Medicare.
How seeing a psychiatrist from Edwardsville, IL works by telehealth
Telepsychiatry is psychiatric care by secure video. The visit covers the same ground as an office visit: your symptoms, your history, your goals and a plan. The difference is that you join from your couch, your kitchen table or a quiet room at work.
We serve the Metro East the same way we serve the rest of the state, with telepsychiatry visits anywhere in Illinois. Whether you're in Glen Carbon, Alton or Belleville, the process looks like this:
- Request an appointment. You'll share basic information, your insurance and what you'd like help with.
- Complete intake forms. These cover your history, current medications and past treatment.
- Join your first visit. You'll get a secure link. The first visit is usually longer, since your provider is getting to know you.
- Agree on a plan. That may include a diagnosis, lab work, medication or a plan to gather more information.
- Follow up. Later visits are usually shorter and focus on how you're doing and whether the plan needs adjusting.
If you need lab work, it can usually be drawn at a lab near you. Prescriptions can be sent electronically to the pharmacy you choose.
The Missouri rule, explained plainly
This is the part that surprises people most, so it's worth saying clearly. Medical licenses are issued by each state, and the rule follows where the patient is during the visit. It doesn't matter where you live, where you work or where our office is.
Our psychiatrist and psychiatric physician assistants are licensed in Illinois. So for every telehealth visit, you need to be physically located in Illinois. If you live in Missouri, including St. Louis city or county, we can't see you by telehealth while you're in Missouri. We know that can be frustrating, especially when a provider is only a video call away. The rule applies to every licensed provider, and following it is part of giving safe, legal care.
Here's how it plays out in everyday situations:
| Where you are during the visit | Can the visit go ahead? |
|---|---|
| At home in Edwardsville or another Illinois town | Yes |
| In a private room at your workplace in Illinois | Yes |
| At your desk in downtown St. Louis | No. Plan the visit for a time you're in Illinois |
| Visiting family across the river in Missouri | No. The visit will need to be rescheduled |
| In your SIUE dorm or apartment | Yes |
| Home for break in another state | No. Plan visits for when you're back in Illinois |
If you commute into Missouri for work, the easiest fix is usually scheduling visits for early mornings, lunch breaks you spend in Illinois or days you work from home. If you live in Missouri, a provider licensed in Missouri is the right place to start.
What we treat
Our team provides psychiatric evaluation, diagnosis and medication management for children, teens and adults. Common reasons people reach out include:
- Depression, including depression that hasn't improved with past treatment
- Anxiety, panic and worry that won't let up
- ADHD in children and adults
- Bipolar disorder and other mood conditions
- OCD and PTSD
- Mood changes during pregnancy and after birth
- Substance use alongside depression or anxiety, through outpatient addiction psychiatry
Care is integrative, so your provider may also look at sleep, nutrition, lab results and, when it makes sense, GeneSight testing to help guide medication choices.
We focus on psychiatric care. For conditions where skills-based treatment with a trained mental health professional is an important part of recovery, our team can help you find a referral and coordinate care.
A note on ADHD medications: stimulants are controlled substances. Federal rules for prescribing controlled substances by telehealth have been changing, and our team will explain the current requirements, which in some cases may include an in-person visit.
Insurance
We're in-network with Aetna, BCBS PPO, UnitedHealthcare and Medicare. Coverage for telehealth can vary from plan to plan, so it's a good idea to call the number on your insurance card and ask about telehealth mental health benefits. Our insurance and billing page explains what to expect.
SIUE students
If you're a student at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, telepsychiatry can fit around classes and work. You can join a visit from your dorm or apartment, as long as you have a private spot and you're in Illinois.
A few things to plan for:
- Breaks and summers. If you go home to Missouri or another state, visits can't happen while you're there. Schedule appointments and refills around the academic calendar.
- Student insurance. If you're on a student health plan, check whether it covers outside psychiatric care by telehealth.
- Privacy. Once you're 18, your health information is generally private unless you choose to share it.
Our post on college student mental health covers more about managing stress, sleep and medications during school.
Getting started
Before you request a first visit, it helps to have:
- Your insurance card
- A list of your current medications and supplements
- Any records from past psychiatric care
- A short list of what you'd like help with
When you schedule, plan to be somewhere in Illinois with a stable connection and a little privacy.
Frequently asked questions
Do you have an office in Edwardsville or the Metro East?
No. Our only office is in Chicago. Patients on the Illinois side of the St. Louis area see our team by secure video from home or another private place in Illinois.
Can I do my visit from my car?
Yes, if you're parked somewhere in Illinois and have a private, quiet space. Please don't join a visit while driving.
What happens if I move to Missouri?
Because our providers are licensed in Illinois, your care would need to move to a provider licensed in Missouri. Our team can help you plan the transition and share your records with your permission.
Can you prescribe medication by telehealth?
Yes, for many medications. Controlled substances have extra federal requirements, and your provider will explain what applies to you. Always talk with your prescriber before starting, stopping or changing any medication.
Start care from home in the Metro East
You don't need to cross the river or drive to Chicago to see a psychiatric provider. Musec Medical is based in Chicago, and people in Edwardsville and across the Metro East can book a telehealth visit from anywhere in Illinois. Get started as a new patient when you're ready.
