Behavioral Health
Beacon Pediatrics Behavioral Health Team
At Beacon Pediatrics, we understand that a child's mental health is just as important as their physical health. The Beacon Pediatrics team is dedicated to supporting and enhancing the growth, development, and the well being of all children and adolescents including their mental and behavioral health needs.
As a member of the PPOC (Pediatric Providers Organization of Children's Hospital), we have been able to train our staff and integrate Behavioral Health into our every-day practice. When a child begins to exhibit behavioral health issues, often the Pediatric Primary Care Physician is the first call a parent makes. At Beacon Pediatrics, your doctor initiates treatment by consulting with our in-house Behavioral Health team members who are available for brief treatment and referral guidance related to emotional and behavioral challenges including:
- Anxiety
- ADD/ADHD
- Adjustment Disorder
- Self-Esteem Building
- Depression
- OCD
- Behavior Management
- Social Skills Building
- School Issues
- Coping Skills
- Aggressive Behaviors

If Your Child Is In Crisis
Call 911 or a Local Mobile Crisis Team:
- Massachusetts Statewide ESP (Emergency Services Program): 1-877-382-1609
- Massachusetts Behavioral Health Help Line: Call or Text 833-773-2445
Additional Emergency Numbers:
- Connect with a Crisis Counselor by texting HOME to 74141
- Suicide Prevention Line: 988 (call/text)
- Parent Stress Line: 1-800-632-8188
The Beacon Pediatrics Behavioral Health team works closely with your child's PCP and may provide the following services for our patients:
- Initial clinical assessment and diagnosis (either as a "warm hand-off" during a PCP visit, or a scheduled BH visit)
- Brief individual treatment for mild to moderate emotional and behavioral challenges
- Parent guidance, behavior management consultation, and coordination of resources
- Medication management of some conditions
- If your child requires further support, we will provide a referral to either our in-house Psychopharmacologist or to outside providers and services.
We recognize that we are facing a mental health crisis in our country and that it can be very difficult to find ongoing therapeutic support for your child. We pledge to do our best to provide you with the necessary support and resources to establish consistent mental health care. If you are looking for an outpatient therapist for your child, we recommend trying the following:
1. Contact our Behavioral Health team to provide you with an updated list of therapists and psychopharmacologists in our community
2. Contact the Behavioral Health number on the back of your health insurance card
3. Visit either psychologytoday.com or headway.co to run a search for local therapists or medication prescribers
Recommended Resources:
ADHD
Books:
- Taking Charge of ADHD by Russell Barkley
- Driven to Distraction by Edward Hallowell and John Ratey
- The ADHD Parenting Handbook: Practical Advice for Parents from Parents by Colleen Alexander-Roberts
- Smart but Scattered: The Revolutionary "Executive Skills" Approach to Helping Kids Reach Their Potential by Peg Dawson and Richard Guare
- The ADHD parenting handbook: practical advice for parents from parents by Colleen Alexander-Roberts
- The Organized Student: Teaching Children the Skills for Success in School and Beyond by Donna Goldberg
- ADHD is My Superpower by Alana Moore (5-8)
- All Dogs Have ADHD by Kathy Hoopmann (7-11)
- Teenagers with ADD: A Parent's guide by Chris Ziegler Denny
- ADHD: A teenager's guide by James Christ
Websites:
- Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD)
- Boston Children's Hospital - Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
- American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) - Families & Youth - ADHD Resource Center
- AACAP ADHD Parents' Medication Guide
- ADDitude Magazine
- MCPAP ADHD Parents Medication Guide
- PM Pediatrics: Helping Children With ADHD Thrive in Social Settings
- PM Pediatrics: ADHD Medication: An Overview
- Understood
Boston Children's Hospital Guided Self-Management Tools for ADHD:
Anxiety
Books:
- Anxious Kids, Anxious Parents: 7 Ways to Stop the Worry Cycle by Lynn Lyons and Reid Wilson
- Wilma Jean the Worry Machine by Julia Cook
- Chillax! How Ernie Learns to Chill Out, Relax and Take Charge of His Anger by Marcella Marino Craver
- Understanding Myself: A Kid's Guide to Intense Emotions and Strong Feelings by Mary Lamia
- What to Do When You Grumble Too Much: A Kid's Guide to Overcoming Negativity by Dawn Huebner
- What to Do When you Worry Too Much: A Kid's Guide to Overcoming Anxiety by Dawn Huebner
- Cool Cats, Calm Kids by Mary Williams
- When My Worries Get Too Big! by Kari Dunn Buron
- Ready . . . Set . . . R.E.L.A.X by Jefrey Allen and Roger Klein
- Freeing Your Child from Anxiety: Practical Strategies to Overcome Fears, Worries and Phobias and Be Prepared for Life-- from Toddlers to Teens by Tamar Chansky
- Helping Your Anxious Child: A Step-By-Step Guide for Parents by Ronald Rapee, Susan Spence, Vanessa Cobham, and Ann Wignall
- Keys to Parenting Your Anxious Child by Katharina Manassis
- Freeing Your Child from Negative Thinking: Powerful, Practical Strategies to Build a Lifetime of Resilience, Flexibility, and Happiness by Tamar Chansky
- Understanding Myself: A Kid's Guide to Intense Emotions and Strong Feelings by Mary Lamia
- The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness by Jonathan Haidt
Websites:
- Child Mind Institute - Anxiety
- American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) - Families & Youth - Anxiety Disorder Resource Center
- Anxious Generation
- fairplay
- LetGrow
- Mental Health Tips from the BU Center for Anxiety & Related Disorders
- National Institute of Mental Health
- Outside Play
Boston Children's Hospital Guided Self-Management Tools for Anxiety:
Autism Spectrum Disorders
Books:
- The Asperkid's Secret Book of Social Rules -- The Handbook of Not-So-Obvious Social Guidelines for Tweens & Teens with Asperger Syndrome by Jennifer Cook O'Toole
- The Autism Mom's Survival Guide by Susan Senator
- Making Peace With Autism by Susan Senator
- Uniquely Human: A Different Way of Seeing Autism by Barry M. Prizant
- Asperger Syndrome and Adolescence: Helping Preteens and Teens Get Ready for the Real World by Teresa Bolick
Websites:
Behavior Management/ Challenging Behavior
Books:
- How To Talk So Little Kids Will Listen by Joanna Faber and Julie King
- How To Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish
- How To Talk So Teens Will Listen & Listen So Teens Will Talk by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish
- No Drama Discipline: The Whole Brain Way To Calm the Chaos and Nurture Your Child's Developing Mind by Daniel J. Siegel
- The 7 Essential Strategies For Parenting Teens by Kate Anderson and Liz Carrington
- Negotiation Generation: Take Back Your Parental Authority Without Punishment by Lynne Griffin
- What To Do When Your Temper Flares: A Kid’s Guide to Overcoming Problems with Anger by Dawn Huebner and Bonnie Matthews
- What To Do When You Grumble Too Much: A Kid’s Guide to Overcoming Negativity by Dawn Huebner and Bonnie Matthews
- Boys of Few Words: Raising our Sons to Communicate and Connect. By Adam Cox
- The Defiant Child by Russel Barkley
- SOS: Help for Parents by Lynn Clark and John Robb
- 1, 2, 3 Magic by Thomas Phelan
- The Explosive Child by Ross Greene
- The Kazdin Method for Parenting the Defiant Child by Alan Kazdin
- Parents in Charge by Dana Chidekel
- Rewards for Kids: Ready to Use Charts and Activities for Positive Parenting by Virginia Shiller
Websites:
Body Image & Eating Disorders
Books:
- Bodies are Cool by Tyler Feder (Ages 3-5)
- The Body Image Workbook for Teens by Julia V. Taylor (teens)
- Health at Every Size by Linda Bacon (teens)
- Body Respect by Linda Bacon (teens)
- The Body is Not an Apology by Sonya Renee Taylor (older teens)
- Strong Is The New Pretty: A Celebration of Girls Being Themselves by Kate T. Parker
- The Heart of a Boy: Celebrating the Strength and Spirit of Boyhood by Kate T. Parker
- Fat Talk: Parenting in the Age of Diet Culture by Virginia Sole-Smith (for Parents)
Websites:
Depression and other Mood Disorders
Books:
- My Feeling Better Workbook by Sarah Hamil (6-12)
- Beyond the Blues: A Workbook to Help Teens Overcome Depression by Lisa M. Schab (13+)
Websites:
- Child Mind Institute
- HealthyChildren.org
- American Academy of Child & Adolesecent Psychiatry Depression Resource Center
Boston Children's Hospital Guided Self-Management Tools for Depression:
Diversity & Anti-Racism
Books:
- All Are Welcome by Alexandra Penfold (2-7)
- Lovely by Jess Hong (2-7)
- We're Different, We're the Same by Bobbi Kates (2-7)
- The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson (5-8)
- Where Are You From by Yamile Saied Mendez (4-8)
- Alma by Juana Martinez-Neal (4-8)
- Stamped for Kids by Sonja Cherry-Paul (8-12)
- Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi (12+)
Websites:
- HealthyChildren.org
- Today's Parent
- Beyond the Golden Rule (Digital Book)
Divorce & Remarriage
Books:
- Was It the Chocolate Pudding? by Sandra Levins (younger children)
- It’s Not Your Fault, Koko Bear by Vicki Lansky (younger children)
- Divorce is the Worst by Anastasia Higginbotham (younger children)
- Divorce: The Ultimate Teen Guide by Kathlyn Gay
- Do You Sing Twinkle? by Sandra Levins (younger children)
- The Invisible String by Patrice Karst (younger children)
- Bigger Than a Bread Box by Laurel Snyder (8-12)
- The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares (12+)
Websites:
Emotional Regulation
Books:
- A Little Spot of Emotion Series by Diane Alber (3-7)
- In My Heart: A Book of Feelings by Jo Witek (3-7)
- The Way I Feel by Janan Cain (3-7)
- I Am Peace: A Book of Mindfulness by Susan Verde (3-8)
- The Very Frustrated Monster by Andi Green (4-8)
- What Should Danny Do? The Power to Choose Series by Adir Levy (4+)
- What Should Darla Do? The Power to Choose Series by Adir Levy (4+)
- Of Course It's a Big Deal!: A Story about Learning to React Calmly and Appropriately by Bryan Smith (6-11)
- What Were You Thinking?: A Story about Learning to Control Your Impulses by Bryan Smith (6-11)
- My Day is Ruined!: A Story for Teaching Flexible Thinking by Bryan Smith (6-11)
- Good Inside with Dr. Becky by Dr. Becky Kennedy (for parents)
- The Whole Brain Child by Daniel J. Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson (for parents)
Websites:
Boston Children's Hospital Guided Self-Management Tools for Disruptive Behavior
Family Diversity/ Family Issues
Books:
- The Family Book by Todd Parr (3-6)
- And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson (4-8)
- Asha’s Mums by Rosamund Elwin (9-12)
- Maybe Days: A Book for Children in Foster Care by Jennifer Wilgocki and Marcia Kahn Wright
Websites:
Friendship
Books:
- A Smart Girl's Guide to Knowing What to Say: Finding the Words to Fit Any Situation (8-12)
- Friends: Making Them and Keeping Them (8-12)
- A Smart Girl's Guide: Friendship Troubles: Dealing with fights, being left out, and the whole popularity thing (8-12)
- A Smart Girl's Guide: Drama, Rumors, and Secrets: Staying true to yourself in changing times (8-12)
Websites:
Gender Identity & Sexual Orientation
Books:
- 10,000 Dresses by Marcus Ewert (5-9)
- Elena’s Serenade by Campbell Geeslin (3-7)
- George by Alex Gino (8-12)
- More Happy Than Not by Adam Silvera (13+)
- Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz (12+)
- The Stars and the Blackness Between Them by Junauda Petrus (YA)
- When the Moon Was Ours by Anna-Marie McLemore (YA)
- Parenting Your LGBTQ+ Teen: A Guide to Supporting, Empowering, and Connecting With Your Child by Allan Sadac (For Parents)
Websites:
Grief & Loss
Books For Children About Death and Dying:
- The Invisible String by Patrice Karst
- The Memory Box: A Book About Grief by Joanna Rowland
- What's Heaven by Maria Shriver
- Sad Isn't Bad: A Good Grief Guidebook for Kids Dealing with Loss by Michaelene Mundy
- Help Me Say Goodbye: Activities for Helping Kids Cope when a Special Person Dies by Janis Silverman
- When Dinosaurs Die: A Guide to Understanding Death by Marc Tolon Brown
- Tuck Meets a Dragonfly by Frances Charles
- The Invisible Leash by Patrice Karst (loss of pet)
Books For Parents to Help Children Deal with Death And Dying:
- Families: Crisis and Caring by T. Berry Brazelton
- Helping Children Grieve: When Someone They Love Dies by Theresa Huntley
- Talking with Children About Loss by Maria Trozzi
Websites:
OCD
Books:
- What To Do When Your Brain Gets Stuck: A Kid's Guide To Overcoming OCD by Dawn Huebner (6-12)
- Standing Up to OCD Workbook for KIds by Tyson Reuter
- The OCD Workbook For Teens by Jon Hershfield (13-18)
Websites:
Puberty
Books:
- The Care & Keeping of You - The Body Book for Girls (American Girl Books)
- Guy Stuff: The Body Book for Boys by Cara Natterson
- What's Happening to My Body? Book for Boys/Girls by Lynda Madaras
- It's Perfectly Normal by Robie Harris
- Sex, Puberty, and All That Stuff by Jacqui Bailey (11-16)
- Celebrate Your Body (and It's Changes Too!): The Ultimate Puberty Book for Girls by Sonia Renee Taylor
- Celebrate Your Body 2: The Ultimate Puberty Book for Preteen and Teen Girls by Carrie Leff and Lisa Klein
- The Body Book for Boys: Celebrate Your Body for Boys by Linda Brookie
Websites:
Safety
Books:
- Your Body Belongs to You by Cornelia Maude Spelman (3-8)
- I Said No: A Kid to Kid Guide to Keeping Private Parts Private by Zack and Kimberly King (5-11)
- A Smart Girl's Guide: Digital World: How to Connect, Share, Play, and Keep Yourself Safe by Carrie Anton (8-12)
Sensory Processing
Books:
- The Out of Sync Child: Recognizing and Coping With Sensory Processing Disorder by Carol Kranowitz
Websites:
Sibling Relationships
Books:
- Olivia - A Guide to Being a Big Sister by Natalie Shaw (younger children)
- Henry is a Big Brother by Alyssa Statin Capucilli (younger children)
- Peter’s Chair by Ezra Jack Keats (younger children)
- 101 Things to Do With Baby by Jan Ormerod (younger children)
- The Sibling Survival Guide: Surefire Ways to Solve Conflicts, Reduce Rivalry, and Have More Fun With Brothers and Sisters by Dawn Huebner
Websites:
- HealthyChildren.org
- Boston Children's (When a sibling is sick)
Substance Abuse
Helpful LinksBooks:
For Parents:
- The Addicted Child: A Parent's Guide to Adolescent Substance Abuse by Richard Capriola
Suicide Prevention
Trauma
Books:
- A Terrible Thing Happened by Margaret M. Holmes (4-7)
- Healing Days: A Guide for Kids Who Have Experienced Trauma by Susan Farber Straus and Maria Bogade (6-11)
- Something Bad Happened: A Kid’s Guide to Learning About Events in the News by Dawn Huebner
For Parents:
- What Happened to You? Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing by Bruce D. Perry and Oprah Winfrey
- The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma by Bessel Van Der Kolk
Websites:
- Child Mind Institute
- HealthyChildren.org
- Boston Children's Hospital Family Education Sheet
- American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
- Resilience in a Time of War (American Psychological Association)
- Talking to Children About Violence (National Association of School Psychologists)
- Common Sense Media
- Talking to Children About War -- The National Child Traumatic Stress Network

