Virginia’s youth mental health providers include residential programs near the Washington, DC region, hospital services in Falls Church and Richmond, and outpatient clinics in Charlottesville and Lynchburg. Age eligibility varies: a service suitable for an older teen may be different from one for a young adult. Compare the specific program and setting below.
1. Newport Academy
Verified- Location
- Northern Virginia
- Care format
- Residential treatment
- Who it serves
- Adolescents
Newport’s Virginia residential programs combine mental health treatment with family therapy and an academic component. The program describes psychiatric and therapeutic care alongside activities such as creative expression and supervised outdoor experiences.
For families traveling to Northern Virginia, ask how often in-person participation is expected and which family sessions can happen remotely. Confirm how the teen’s school will receive progress information and how the residential team will arrange continuing treatment near home.
2. UVA Health Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Clinic
- Location
- Charlottesville, Virginia
- Care format
- Outpatient psychiatric evaluation and treatment
- Who it serves
- Children, adolescents and families
UVA’s Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Clinic is at 310 Old Ivy Way in Charlottesville. Its assessment and treatment services cover concerns such as anxiety, OCD, depression, bipolar disorder, ADHD, behavioral difficulties, and autism-related mental health needs.
The clinic asks families to submit its referral form. Prepare previous treatment and school information, and ask whether the initial visit is a consultation or the start of ongoing care. Confirm how medication and psychotherapy follow-up will be organized.
3. Inova Fairfax Hospital — Adolescent Mental Health Unit
- Location
- Falls Church, Virginia
- Care format
- Short-term inpatient psychiatric care
- Who it serves
- Adolescents ages 14–17
Inova Fairfax’s adolescent mental health unit provides short-term stabilization for ages 14–17. The service includes psychiatric and medical assessment, medication management, group treatment, family meetings, and collaboration with schools and other providers.
Its published goal is to stabilize symptoms and establish aftercare. Ask what the discharge criteria are, which clinician will continue medication management, and when the first follow-up appointment will occur. For an urgent psychiatric concern, use the hospital’s emergency assessment pathway.
4. Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU — VTCC
- Location
- Richmond, Virginia
- Care format
- Child and adolescent inpatient and outpatient care
- Who it serves
- Children and adolescents
The Virginia Treatment Center for Children is part of Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU. VCU’s child and adolescent psychiatry division provides both inpatient and outpatient services, with care organized around the young person and family.
Ask which service the referral is for and whether it involves hospital stabilization or scheduled appointments. For a hospital admission, discuss family participation, educational needs, medication follow-up, and how the care team will connect with clinicians closer to home.
5. Centra Piedmont Psychiatric Center
- Location
- Lynchburg, Virginia
- Care format
- Outpatient psychiatry and therapy
- Who it serves
- Adults, including young adults; confirm youth referrals
Centra lists Piedmont Psychiatric Center at 3300 Rivermont Avenue in Lynchburg. Its outpatient service provides psychiatric assessment, medication treatment, and therapy. Centra’s program description identifies adult outpatient care here, so younger teenagers should be directed to the appropriate child or adolescent service.
For a young adult seeking continuing care, ask which clinician is accepting referrals and whether therapy and prescribing are available through the same team. Do not confuse this outpatient clinic with Centra’s separate inpatient behavioral health hospital.
Frequently asked questions
What ages does Inova Fairfax’s adolescent hospital unit accept?
Inova Fairfax lists ages 14–17 for its adolescent mental health unit. Its care focuses on short-term stabilization, with psychiatric assessment, medication management, group treatment, and family meetings.
This age range matters for a younger child or someone who has already turned 18: they need the appropriate service rather than an assumed exception. The care team should also arrange aftercare and coordinate with school and existing clinicians before discharge.
How does a family begin an outpatient referral at UVA?
UVA’s Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Clinic asks families to submit its referral form. The clinic is at 310 Old Ivy Way in Charlottesville and provides evaluation and treatment for children, adolescents, and families.
Gather previous assessments, current medications, and relevant school information for the intake. Confirm whether the referral is for a one-time consultation or ongoing care, and establish who will provide therapy and prescribing while waiting for the first appointment.
Can a young adult use every service described as child and adolescent care?
No. The listed providers have different age boundaries. Inova’s adolescent unit serves ages 14–17; Centra’s Piedmont Psychiatric Center is described as an adult outpatient service, which makes it relevant to young adults rather than an automatic match for younger teenagers. Centra’s program description distinguishes its adult outpatient work.
Before an eighteenth birthday or college move, identify the receiving provider, transfer records, and make a plan for refills and appointments so the change in age group does not create a gap in care.
How can a family get a clearer price before starting self-pay treatment?
For people who are uninsured or are not using insurance, federal rules generally provide a right to a Good Faith Estimate when care is scheduled in advance or an estimate is requested. A bill at least $400 above the estimate may qualify for the federal patient–provider dispute process.
Request an itemized estimate for the proposed service, including assessments, therapy, prescribing visits, and any separately billed facility charges. An estimate for one appointment should not be treated as the price of a complete residential stay or a multiweek program.