Lois and John Orr Family Behavioral Health Center
Includes specialty programs: Addiction Services Program / Intensive Outpatient Program / Partial Hospitalization Program / Psychiatric Intake Response Center
We specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of emotional or behavioral disorders affecting children, teens and their families. Our mental health services include medication management, educational consultation and testing, psychological testing, individual therapy and family counseling.
We offer outpatient consultation to children and adolescents dealing with the stress of a chronic medical condition, anxiety, depression and other mental health issues. We also provide consultation for children admitted for medical and/or surgical care who may also be experiencing emotional or mental health issues, including inpatient services at our Akron campus.
If your child or teen is experiencing a mental health crisis, our behavioral health emergency services, located within Akron Children's Hospital's emergency departments, is dedicated to evaluating and treating children and teens who present with mental and behavioral problems.
Conditions that may lead to a referral to pediatric psychiatry/psychology include developmental or emotional problems, traumatic stress, sexual or physical abuse, psychological components of physical illness, learning problems, changes in dietary habits or suicidal concerns.
Locations
Contact Behavioral Health
Akron Children's Hospital Intensive Outpatient Program, Akron
Considine Professional Building
215 West Bowery Street
Level 2
Akron, Ohio 44308
Fax: 330-543-3856
More about this location...
Map & directions
Akron Children's Hospital Partial Hospitalization Program, Akron
Considine Professional Building
215 West Bowery Street
Level 2
Akron, Ohio 44308
Fax: 330-543-3856
More about this location...
Map & directions
Akron Children's Hospital Pediatric Psychiatry & Psychology, Akron
Considine Professional Building
215 West Bowery Street
Level 2
Akron, Ohio 44308
Fax: 330-543-3856
More about this location...
Map & directions
Akron Children's Hospital Pediatric Psychiatry and Psychology, Boardman
Teegan Kamzelski Building
6614 Southern Boulevard
Building E
Boardman, Ohio 44512
More about this location...
Map & directions
Our Doctors/Providers
Director, Pediatric Psychiatry and Psychology; The Lois C. Orr Endowed Chair in Pediatric Psychiatry
Sumru Bilge-Johnson, MD
Medical Director, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship Program; Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist
Charles Brown, DO
Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist
Laura Markley, MD
Medical Director, Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry; Community Pediatrics Liaison; Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist; General Pediatrician - Adolescent Medicine
Accepting New Patients
Rihab Mohamed, MD
Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist; Medical Director, Partial Hospitalization Program
Susan Neilan, MD
Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist
Jason Spivey, Sr., MD
Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist
Tiffany Thomas-Lakia, MD
Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist
Kevin Triemstra, PhD
Pediatric Psychologist
Allyson Weldon, PhD
Sports Psychologist
Chelsea Weyand, PsyD, ABPP
Director, Pediatric Psychology Fellowship Program; Pediatric Psychologist
Beth Kenney-Murphy, APRN, CNS
Clinical Nurse Specialist
Samantha Macino, APRN-CNP
Nurse Practitioner
Specialty Programs
Patient Forms
Videos
Each of these video playlists can be expanded by clicking on the Playlist icon in the upper right corner of the video window.
Anxiety and Depression
- When a child's anxiety is affecting their sleep
- Handling a child's test anxiety
- Shopping, anxiety mark the start of the new school year
- Dealing with grief in children and teens
- Your child's anxiety level and when to seek help
- Signs of possible depression in children
Behavioral Health And Nutrition
- Children sneaking food
- Anxiety related to eating habits
- Appropriate portions of food
- Children keep asking for junk food
- Eating while watching devices
- Good foods vs. bad foods
- How to guide children to have healthy eating habits
- Mood and food
- Motivation and commitment devices
- Research on motivating children
- Routines help children eat healthier
- Setting up for successful diets at home
- Simple ways to exercise for your health
- Subtle habits that lead to unhealthy diets
- Teens sneaking food
- The Healthy Active Living program
- Ways to handle a picky eater
Substance Abuse Disorders
- Three most commonly abused substances
- Children with depression and anxiety may turn to substances to cope
- Risk factors for developing a substance use disorder
- Lock up the liquor when throwing a home party with teens
- Understanding drug terms used by your child
- Asking your child what they know about drugs and alcohol
- Talking to kids about a possible substance use disorder
- What is Substance Use Disorder (SUD)?
- Finding marijuana in your child's room
- When and how do I begin talking to kids about drugs and alcohol
- Setting expectations for teens and school parties
- Talking to your children about a family history of substance use disorders
- Discussing your nicotine use with your kids
- When your child is defensive or dishonest about substance use
- How to be a "curious questioner" with your child about suspicious behavior
- Getting a substance abuse disorder assessment for your child
- What should you do if find a substance in your child’s room?
- Resources for children diagnosed with a substance use disorder
- Substance use disorder is developing earlier in today’s adolescents
- What to do if your child comes home drunk or high
- Providing teens with guardrails for their freedom
- Balancing safety and freedom when talking to teens about substance abuse
- Teen binge drinking in high school and college
- Honest, open communications are the key to addressing substance use disorders
- Love and caring matter more than family structure when helping kids with substance abuse
- Rebuilding trust after substance use disorders
- The gateway to drugs often opens at home
- Why are substance use disorders so hard to cure?
- How addiction becomes a disease
- Honesty, not yelling, the key to talking to teens about substance use
- Impact on life is the most accurate measure of substance use disorders
- The teen brain and risk taking
- Higher marijuana THC levels correlate to more significant brain damage
- Marijuana is more potent than ever before
- Keep conversations with teens open and real
- How do I know my child has a substance use disorder?
- Starting the conversation about substance use
- Marijuana use up in kids
- Forty percent of rainbow fentanyl and other fake pills contain a lethal dose of the dangerous drug
Other Behavioral Health Concerns
- Why psychologists are involved with chronic pain management
- Keeping siblings from falling through the cracks
- Helping the child that says, "You don't understand!"
- Helping children fall asleep on their own
- Cultivating resiliency in children
- Consistent bedtime routines help children sleep
- Screen time
- The defiant child
- Kids and activities
- Understanding and preventing bullying
- Reassurance and communication are the keys to resolving childhood fears
- Child mental health issues can go unnoticed
- News of school shootings can have a traumatic impact on children
- Expert offers advice for talking to children about traumatic events
- Helping children deal with negative thoughts
Patient & Parent Resources
- 20% of Teens Have Mental Illness; Only 20% Seek Help
- 5 Ways to Beat the Stress of Competition
- 5 Ways to Help Kids Deal with Stress
- Explaining Scary News to Kids
- 99 Healthy Coping Skills
- Having Open and Meaningful Conversations with Kids and Teens
- TikTok Trends: Keeping Kids Safe
- Encouraging Words for Kids
- Ways to Help Build Resilience in Kids
- Words of Empowerment for Family Caregivers
- Every Day is Suicide Prevention Day
- Feelings and Coping Skills Puzzles
- Mental Health Book Recommendations
- Recommended Mental Health Apps
- Store It Safe -- Prevent Suicide
- The Trevor Project - information & support to LGBTQ + young people 24/7
- In crisis? Text HOME to 741741 to connect with a crisis counselor 24/7
- Feeling depressed? Text CONNECT for free 24/7 help
- Let's Talk Feeling Catcher
Some of the Conditions We Treat...
Anorexia Nervosa, Bipolar Disorder, Depression, Self Injury, ADHD, Anxiety, Asperger Syndrome, Binge Eating Disorder, Body Dysmorphic Disorder, Bulimia Nervosa, Dysthymia, Eating Disorders, Female Athlete Triad, Phobia, Pica, trichotillomania, psychology, psychiatry
