Parents may need to find a counselor for a variety of reasons: a child may be struggling or a parent or the marriage may have trouble coping with the stresses of child rearing.

Psychiatrists are the doctors who specialize in medicating people with mood or self-control issues.  Parents may need to find a psychiatrist to evaluate a child who is not behaving appropriately.  A school may recommend that parents have a difficult or unhappy child evaluated by the psychiatrist to determine whether medications may  be helpful.

An initial evaluation may cost $750 to $1,000.  Some health plans cover the cost, at least partially.  Unfortunately, many well qualified psychiatrists do not accept many insurance plans.  Once the child has been evaluated, the psychiatrist may recommend a trial of a medication.

Psychiatrists usually see their role as  prescribing medication rather than as counselors.  Medication is generally more likely to be effective if it is accompanied by counseling, by a social worker or a psychologist.