Key Takeaways
- Willow & Stone sees young people ages 10 and up in Arlington, Texas, and by telehealth in Texas, New Mexico, Florida, Alaska, Arizona, Colorado and Washington.
- The first visit is a 90-minute evaluation ($300); follow-ups are $150. Insurance is accepted for Texas patients only, depending on the plan.
- A youth bipolar evaluation includes parent input, time with the teen alone, a mood and sleep timeline, family history, school information and labs ordered as needed.
- Care is outpatient and scheduled, not emergency care; if a higher level of care is needed, we help you find it.
If you think your teen or older child may have bipolar disorder, or they have already been diagnosed and need ongoing care, Willow & Stone offers evaluation and treatment for young people ages 10 and up. Care is led by Dr. Stacey Forbes, DNP, APRN, PMHNP-BC, a board-certified psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner, in our Arlington, Texas office or by telehealth in Texas, New Mexico, Florida, Alaska, Arizona, Colorado and Washington. This page explains what a bipolar-focused evaluation includes, the parent’s role, consent, fees and what happens in a crisis.
Outpatient care, and what to do in an emergency
If your child is in crisis right now
If a higher level of care is needed (for example during severe mania or psychosis), we help you find it. Once a young person is stable enough for outpatient care, scheduled visits can pick up from there.
Who we see
- Ages 10 and up. Children under 10 are referred to a child psychiatry specialist. For a child at the younger end of our range, ask our office when you call whether an evaluation here or with a child psychiatry specialist is the better fit.
- Location at the time of the visit. Your child must be physically in Texas, New Mexico, Florida, Alaska, Arizona, Colorado or Washington during each telehealth visit. In-person visits are at our Arlington, Texas office, serving the Dallas–Fort Worth area.
- Suspected or diagnosed bipolar disorder. Families come with a first episode of concern, a diagnosis that needs a second look, or an established diagnosis that needs ongoing medication management.
A psychiatric nurse practitioner can evaluate, diagnose and treat bipolar disorder, including prescribing mood stabilizers. For teen concerns beyond mood, such as anxiety, ADHD or school burnout, our general teen and adolescent psychiatry page describes the wider service.
What a youth bipolar evaluation includes
Bipolar disorder in young people overlaps with ADHD, DMDD, anxiety and ordinary depression, and NIMH notes that no blood test or brain scan can diagnose it. So the first visit is a full 90-minute evaluation focused on the pattern of symptoms over time:
- Parent input. When changes started, whether they come in episodes, and examples from home.
- Time with your teen alone. Young people share more about mood, substances and safety when a parent is out of the room.
- A mood and sleep timeline. Periods of sharply reduced sleep without tiredness, unusual energy or grandiosity, and depressive stretches.
- Family history. Bipolar disorder, depression, suicide, ADHD and substance use in blood relatives.
- Medication history. Especially any mood change after an antidepressant or stimulant.
- School information. Report cards and teacher observations, shared with your permission.
- Medical review and rule-out labs, ordered as needed. For example, thyroid problems and substances can mimic mood symptoms.
- A safety assessment and a plan the family understands.
NICE advises that bipolar disorder in young people be diagnosed only after careful monitoring over time with parents involved, so a clear answer may take more than one visit and some mood charting at home. Our guide to the teen psychiatric evaluation explains the visit structure in more detail, and our integrative psychiatric evaluation page describes the overall approach.
The parent’s role and consent by state
Appointments for minors are started by a parent or guardian. Parents provide much of the history, help with monitoring at home, and are part of decisions about treatment. Teens are told up front what stays private and what does not: anything involving safety is shared.
Who must consent to a minor’s psychiatric care, including medication, depends on state law. Texas families can read Texas teen mental health consent before the first visit; we also have guides for New Mexico, Florida, Arizona, Colorado and Washington. If parents are separated, bring any custody order that covers medical decisions.
What treatment can include
- Medication management. Medication options are discussed at your evaluation, including which medicines carry FDA approval at your child’s age; see bipolar medication for teens. Labs are ordered as needed for monitoring and are billed by the outside lab.
- Psychotherapy. Willow & Stone offers psychotherapy in-house, including EMDR, and can talk with you about coordinating with an outside therapist for approaches such as family-focused therapy or CBT.
- Pharmacogenomic testing, where it adds something. GeneSight testing is available; it does not diagnose bipolar disorder and does not guide lithium. See GeneSight testing.
- School support. Ask your clinician whether they can provide documentation for the school; our page on school support for teens with bipolar disorder explains 504 plans and IEPs.
- Family guidance. Sleep routines, warning signs and a home safety plan; see parenting a teen with bipolar disorder.
Ketamine, esketamine, TMS and ECT are not offered at Willow & Stone; when one of them is indicated, a referral is made.
Fees and insurance
| Visit | Fee |
|---|---|
| First visit: 90-minute evaluation | $300 |
| Follow-up visits | $150 |
Insurance is accepted for Texas patients only, and coverage depends on the plan. Outside Texas, visits are direct-pay and we provide a superbill you can submit to your insurer for possible out-of-network reimbursement. Lab tests are billed separately by the outside lab. See our pricing page for details.
Telehealth and the Arlington office
Many families choose telehealth, especially outside the Dallas–Fort Worth area. Visits use secure video, and a parent joins for the parts of the visit that need them. Your child must be physically located in Texas, New Mexico, Florida, Alaska, Arizona, Colorado or Washington at the time of each visit. Families near Arlington can also be seen in person. Our page on how telehealth psychiatry works covers the technical side.
How to get started
- Request an appointment through our consultation page, including your child’s age and main concern.
- Gather a short timeline of mood and sleep changes, any past diagnoses and medications, and recent report cards.
- Note family history of mood disorders, suicide, ADHD or substance use.
- Read your state’s consent page and bring any custody paperwork.
For background before the visit, our guide to bipolar disorder in teens and children covers signs, look-alike conditions and treatment. Adults can learn about bipolar disorder treatment at Willow & Stone.
Common Questions
Can a nurse practitioner diagnose and treat bipolar disorder in a teen?
Yes. A board-certified psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner can evaluate, diagnose and treat bipolar disorder, including prescribing mood stabilizers. Dr. Stacey Forbes, DNP, APRN, PMHNP-BC, leads care at Willow & Stone.
Do you see children under 10?
No. Willow & Stone sees patients 10 and older, and children under 10 are referred to a child psychiatry specialist. For a child at the younger end of the range, ask our office when you call which setting is the better fit.
Is teen bipolar care covered by insurance?
Insurance is accepted for Texas patients only, and coverage depends on the plan. Outside Texas, visits are direct-pay with a superbill for possible out-of-network reimbursement. The first visit is $300 for a 90-minute evaluation and follow-ups are $150.
Can my teen be seen by telehealth?
Yes, if your teen is physically in Texas, New Mexico, Florida, Alaska, Arizona, Colorado or Washington at the time of the visit. Families can also come to our Arlington, Texas office.
What happens if my teen needs hospital care?
Willow & Stone provides outpatient, scheduled care and is not an emergency service. In an emergency call 911, or call or text 988. If a higher level of care is needed, for example during severe mania or psychosis, we help you find it.
How long is the first appointment?
The first visit is a 90-minute evaluation. It includes time with the parent and teen together and separately, a review of mood, sleep, family and medication history, and a discussion of next steps. A diagnosis may take more than one visit.
Part of our guide to bipolar disorder in teens
Sources & Further Reading
- NIMH: Bipolar Disorder in Children and Teens (NIH Pub. 23-MH-8081, 2023)
- NICE CG185: Bipolar disorder, assessment and management (last updated 2 Sept 2025)
- NIMH: Bipolar Disorder (NIH Pub. 25-MH-8088, 2025)
- FDA Table of Pharmacogenomic Biomarkers in Drug Labeling
- SAMHSA: 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline FAQs
This article is general education, not a diagnosis or advice for your situation. Do not start, stop, or change a medication without talking to the clinician who prescribes it; stopping a mood stabilizer suddenly can trigger relapse.
If you need help right now
Willow & Stone is an outpatient practice and is not an emergency service. If you or someone you care about is in immediate danger, call 911.
For urgent mental health support at any hour, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, or text HOME to 741741 for the Crisis Text Line. Both are free, confidential, and available 24/7 nationwide.
Dr. Stacey Forbes, DNP, APRN, PMHNP-BC
Board-certified Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner and founder of Willow & Stone Integrative Mental Health. Nearly two decades of clinical experience; integrative, root-cause psychiatry in person in Arlington and by telehealth. Licensed in Texas, New Mexico, Florida, Alaska, Arizona, Colorado & Washington.
About Dr. Forbes →