Dr. Arnold Shapiro is a board-certified psychiatrist with 35+ years of experience treating children, teens, and adults at offices in Cincinnati, Ohio and Fort Wright, Kentucky. A child or teen evaluation here has three parts — an hour with the parents, an hour with the child, and an hour with Dr. Shapiro and the whole family — and care for children and teens always includes the parents. Call (859) 341-7453; calls are returned the same business day.
When a child or teen should see a psychiatrist
There is no single moment when a child “should” see a psychiatrist. Parents often call when something has gone on long enough, or become big enough, that it is getting in the way of school, friendships, or life at home — and the usual first steps have not been enough.
You do not have to know what is wrong before you call. Working out what is going on is the job of the evaluation. A pediatrician, therapist, or school counselor may suggest a psychiatric opinion, or you may simply want one.
If your child is in crisis or you are worried about their immediate safety, call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room. For crisis support, you can also call 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline).
Common reasons parents call
- Worries, mood changes, or behavior that have lasted and are getting in the way of school, friendships, or family life
- Something has been tried — a change at school, counseling, or a first medication — and it has not been enough
- You wonder whether what you are seeing points to ADHD, anxiety, depression, or something else
- A pediatrician, therapist, or school counselor has suggested seeing a psychiatrist
- You have seen someone before and still do not have a clear explanation of what is going on
Conditions we see in children and teens
Dr. Shapiro cares for children, teens, and adults. Each of the conditions below has its own page on this site with more detail.
Because the evaluation looks at the whole picture before settling on a diagnosis, you do not need to arrive knowing which of these fits your child.
Conditions with a page on this site
- ADHD
- Anxiety
- Depression
- OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder)
- ODD (oppositional defiant disorder)
- DMDD (disruptive mood dysregulation disorder)
- Childhood bipolar disorder
- Tic disorders and Tourette’s syndrome
- Trichotillomania (hair-pulling disorder)
How a child or adolescent evaluation works here
For children and adolescents, the evaluation has three parts. The first two let the parents and the child each speak freely — separately — without worrying about the other person being in the room. The third part brings everyone together with Dr. Shapiro to make a plan.
The evaluation takes about three hours across the sessions, and initial evaluations are held in person at either office.
The steps, in order
- Part 1 — one hour with the therapist and the parents: the history, the worries, what has been tried, what school says, and what home looks like
- Part 2 — one hour with the therapist and your child or teen, separately, so they can speak freely; older kids talk, and younger ones may use play and drawings
- Rating scales are sent ahead to be filled out by the parents, by the child if old enough, and often by teachers
- Team review — the therapist and Dr. Shapiro go over both meetings and the rating scales together, and Dr. Shapiro reads the therapist’s notes and writes his own on what matters most
- Part 3 — one hour with Dr. Shapiro, parents and child together: he shares what he learned, reads the notes back so you can add or correct anything, explains the possible diagnoses in plain language, answers your questions, and walks through the treatment options
- You leave with a Plan A, a Plan B, and often a Plan C, so if the first approach does not work you are not starting over
How parents are involved
Parents are part of the care from the first meeting, not an audience for it. Care for children and teens here always includes the parents.
School is part of the picture too. Teachers are often asked to fill out rating scales before the evaluation, and, with your permission, the office communicates with school counselors and other professionals involved in your child’s care.
You get your own hour
The first hour is yours, to talk openly about your concerns without having to be careful about what you say in front of your child.
Your child gets an hour too
Your child or teen has a separate hour to describe what is upsetting to them in their own words, not just what the adults report.
You decide together
In the family meeting, Dr. Shapiro explains the options in plain language, and the family decides together how to proceed.
Between visits
The therapist and Dr. Shapiro share one chart, and calls are returned the same business day. If a medication seems to be making things worse, the therapist can call Dr. Shapiro right away.
How medication is approached
Medication management is one part of the care Dr. Shapiro offers, alongside therapy with the practice’s therapist. A plan may include medication management, therapy coordination, or both.
Dr. Shapiro’s approach is to teach you about your child’s condition and all of the possible treatments, then explore the pros and cons together. There is no one-size-fits-all approach: if something is not working, the plan is adjusted, and backup plans are built in from the start.
Follow-up visits for medication management run about 30 to 45 minutes. Most patients are seen about once a month, and the schedule is adjusted to your needs.
Our two offices and how to start
There are two offices: Cincinnati (8280 Montgomery Road, Suite 304, Cincinnati, OH 45236) and Fort Wright, Kentucky (1717 Dixie Highway, Suite 200, Fort Wright, KY 41011). Office hours are Monday – Thursday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM and Friday: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM.
To begin, call (859) 341-7453. The practice is out-of-network: you pay at the time of the visit, the office provides a superbill, and fees are discussed openly on the first phone call, before anything is scheduled. There is no pressure to decide on the spot. Secure video visits are available for follow-up appointments.
Common questions
What ages does Dr. Shapiro see?
Dr. Shapiro treats patients of all ages, from young children through older adults. Care for children and teens always includes the parents.
Will my child and I be seen together or separately?
Both, on purpose. The evaluation starts with an hour for the parents and a separate hour for the child or teen, so each can speak freely. The third hour brings the whole family together with Dr. Shapiro to talk through the findings and make a plan.
Does the office work with my child’s school?
Teachers are often asked to complete rating scales as part of the evaluation. With your permission, the office also communicates with school counselors and other professionals involved in your child’s care.
Does an evaluation mean my child will start medication?
The evaluation is where the possible diagnoses and treatments are explained, not where a decision is made for you. Dr. Shapiro walks through the options and their pros and cons, and the family decides together how to proceed, with a backup plan in case the first approach does not get you all the way there.
Do you take insurance?
The practice is out-of-network. You pay at the time of the visit and receive a superbill, and as a courtesy the office submits claims to your insurance company twice a month. HSA and FSA payment is accepted, and fees are discussed on your first phone call before anything is scheduled.