As a Beverly Hills pediatrician, I understand that children’s mental health and behavioral wellbeing are just as important as their physical health. Behavioral health services in my practice address the full spectrum of emotional, developmental, and psychological concerns that affect children and adolescents, from ADHD and anxiety to learning difficulties and social challenges. I provide comprehensive evaluations, evidence-based treatment approaches, and ongoing support in a comfortable, judgment-free environment where families feel heard and children feel safe discussing their struggles.
Many behavioral and emotional concerns emerge during childhood, and early intervention makes a tremendous difference in outcomes. Whether your child is experiencing attention difficulties, mood changes, developmental delays, behavioral problems, or school struggles, I’m here to help identify underlying causes and create effective treatment plans. My approach integrates medical expertise with compassionate listening, family involvement, and coordination with schools and specialists when needed, ensuring your child receives holistic care that addresses both symptoms and root causes while supporting your entire family through the process.
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder affects many children, impacting their ability to focus, control impulses, and succeed academically and socially. I provide thorough ADHD evaluations using standardized assessment tools, parent and teacher questionnaires, behavioral observations, and detailed developmental history to determine whether symptoms meet diagnostic criteria. My Beverly Hills practice understands that not every fidgety or distracted child has ADHD, so I carefully differentiate between normal childhood behavior, other conditions that mimic ADHD symptoms, and true attention deficit disorders requiring intervention.
Once diagnosed, ADHD management in my practice includes both behavioral strategies and medication options when appropriate. I work closely with families to implement organizational systems, routine structures, and positive reinforcement techniques that help children succeed. When medication is recommended, I start with appropriate doses, monitor effectiveness and side effects carefully, and adjust treatment based on feedback from parents and teachers. I also provide school accommodation letters, coordinate with educational psychologists, and offer ongoing support as your child grows and their needs change throughout elementary school, middle school, and high school years.
Childhood anxiety and depression are increasingly common, yet often go unrecognized or dismissed as normal worry or moodiness. I screen for mental health concerns during well-child visits and provide dedicated appointments for families concerned about symptoms like excessive worry, social withdrawal, irritability, sleep disturbances, appetite changes, declining grades, or loss of interest in activities. My evaluations explore contributing factors including family stress, bullying, academic pressure, social media influence, trauma, and biological predisposition to understand the complete picture of what your child is experiencing.
Treatment for anxiety and depression in my Beverly Hills practice combines therapeutic support, coping skill development, family counseling, and medication when necessary. I teach evidence-based techniques like cognitive behavioral strategies, mindfulness practices, and stress management tools that children can use when anxious or depressed feelings emerge. For moderate to severe cases, I refer to trusted child psychologists and psychiatrists throughout Los Angeles while maintaining my role as your child’s primary care provider who coordinates all aspects of their health. My goal is catching mental health concerns early, providing appropriate intervention, and ensuring no child suffers silently with emotional pain.
Every child develops at their own pace, but significant delays in speech, motor skills, social interaction, or cognitive abilities may indicate underlying developmental disorders requiring evaluation and intervention. I monitor developmental milestones carefully during well-child visits, using standardized screening tools at key ages to identify concerns with language development, fine and gross motor skills, social-emotional growth, and cognitive progress. When delays are detected, I conduct comprehensive assessments to determine whether your child would benefit from early intervention services, therapy, or further evaluation by developmental specialists.
Common developmental concerns I address include speech and language delays, autism spectrum disorders, sensory processing difficulties, motor coordination problems, and global developmental delays. Early identification and intervention dramatically improve outcomes, which is why I maintain a low threshold for screening and referral. My Beverly Hills practice connects families with excellent speech therapists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, and developmental pediatricians throughout the area while remaining your central point of contact who understands your child’s complete medical and developmental picture. I also help families navigate insurance coverage for therapies and advocate for appropriate school-based services through Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and 504 plans.
Declining grades, homework battles, behavioral problems at school, or teacher concerns about your child’s academic performance often signal underlying issues requiring medical evaluation. School difficulties can stem from learning disabilities, attention problems, vision or hearing impairments, anxiety, depression, social struggles, sleep deprivation, or medical conditions affecting concentration and energy. I take a detective approach to school performance issues, exploring all potential causes through careful history, physical examination, developmental assessment, and sometimes referrals for educational testing or specialist evaluation.
Once we identify factors contributing to school struggles, I develop comprehensive treatment plans that may include medical management, behavioral interventions, parent coaching, teacher communication, and referrals for educational therapy or tutoring. I’m experienced writing letters for school accommodations, attending IEP meetings when helpful, and advocating for Beverly Hills students who need additional support to reach their potential. Many children are bright but struggle due to treatable conditions like ADHD, dyslexia, or anxiety, and proper diagnosis with appropriate support can transform their academic experience from frustrating failure to confident success.
Behavioral health concerns affect the entire family, not just the child experiencing symptoms. My practice embraces a family-centered approach that involves parents, siblings when appropriate, and sometimes extended family in understanding, managing, and supporting children’s mental health and behavioral needs. I recognize that parenting a child with ADHD, anxiety, autism, or other behavioral challenges is exhausting and sometimes isolating, so I provide guidance, resources, and compassionate support to caregivers who are doing their best under difficult circumstances.
Family-centered care means I listen to parents’ observations and concerns, respect your knowledge of your child, and collaborate on treatment decisions rather than dictating approaches. I help families understand diagnoses, teach behavior management strategies that work at home, address sibling dynamics when one child requires extra attention, and connect you with parent support groups and community resources throughout Beverly Hills and Los Angeles. Mental health treatment succeeds when everyone works together, so I maintain open communication, encourage questions, and ensure families feel supported and empowered rather than overwhelmed and alone in managing their child’s behavioral health needs.
Behavioral health services require a pediatrician who combines medical expertise with genuine empathy, patience, and understanding of the complex factors affecting children’s emotional wellbeing. My Beverly Hills practice offers comprehensive mental health screening, evaluation, and management within the trusted relationship we’ve already built through your child’s medical care, eliminating the need to start over with unfamiliar specialists for initial concerns. I know your child’s complete health history, family dynamics, and developmental trajectory, which provides valuable context when assessing behavioral and emotional symptoms.
Parents appreciate my balanced, evidence-based approach that neither dismisses legitimate concerns nor rushes to medicate every struggling child. I take time to understand the whole picture, explore all contributing factors, and develop individualized treatment plans that may include behavioral strategies, therapy referrals, medication when appropriate, school advocacy, and family support. Beverly Hills families trust me with their children’s mental health because I create a safe, non-judgmental space where kids can express difficult feelings and parents can discuss sensitive concerns without shame. Behavioral health is integrated seamlessly into comprehensive pediatric care at my practice, ensuring your child’s emotional and psychological needs receive the same excellent attention as their physical health.
“Mental health challenges don’t mean something is wrong with your child – they mean your child needs support, just like a broken bone needs a cast. I’m here to provide that support with compassion, expertise, and the belief that every child can thrive when given proper care.”
“Anita Sabeti, MD.”Â
Behavioral health evaluations can occur at any age, from toddlers showing developmental delays or extreme tantrums to teenagers struggling with depression or anxiety. I screen for developmental and behavioral concerns starting at infancy and continue monitoring throughout childhood and adolescence. Some specific diagnoses like ADHD are typically made during school-age years when attention demands increase, while autism spectrum disorders can often be identified by age 2-3. The key is addressing concerns whenever they arise rather than waiting, because early intervention for behavioral and mental health issues leads to better outcomes regardless of your child’s age.
ADHD diagnosis involves a comprehensive evaluation including detailed developmental and behavioral history, parent and teacher questionnaires using standardized rating scales, observation of your child’s behavior, assessment of symptoms across multiple settings (home, school, activities), and ruling out other conditions that mimic ADHD like anxiety, learning disabilities, or sleep problems. I use criteria from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-5) which require symptoms of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that are present for at least six months, began before age 12, occur in multiple settings, and significantly interfere with functioning. Diagnosis is clinical, based on thorough evaluation rather than a single test.
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Many behavioral health concerns benefit from therapy with a licensed child psychologist, counselor, or therapist who specializes in evidence-based treatments like cognitive behavioral therapy, play therapy, or family therapy. I provide initial screening, diagnosis, and medical management while referring families to excellent mental health professionals throughout Beverly Hills and Los Angeles for ongoing counseling. Some children need only brief therapy for specific issues, while others benefit from longer-term support. I remain involved as your child’s pediatrician, coordinating care between all providers and monitoring overall progress to ensure your child receives comprehensive, integrated treatment.
I’m experienced supporting Beverly Hills families through the special education process and school accommodation requests. When children have diagnosed conditions affecting learning or behavior, I write detailed letters documenting medical diagnoses, functional limitations, and recommended accommodations for 504 Plans or Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). I explain what support your child needs, communicate with school psychologists and administrators when helpful, provide documentation for testing accommodations, and advocate for appropriate services. While schools conduct their own educational evaluations, my medical input is crucial for ensuring children receive support they’re entitled to under federal disability laws.
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Bring it up during our appointments – that’s exactly what I’m here for. Parents know their children best, and if something feels off or concerning, it’s worth discussing even if you’re unsure whether it’s a problem. Behavioral health exists on a spectrum, and determining whether behaviors are within normal developmental range or indicate underlying concerns requiring intervention is part of my expertise. I’d rather evaluate something that turns out to be normal childhood behavior than miss a real concern because parents hesitated to mention it. Beverly Hills families appreciate that I listen without judgment and take all concerns seriously.
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Behavioral health evaluations and management are part of standard pediatric care and are billed to insurance like other medical visits. Most insurance plans cover mental health screening, evaluation, and treatment with the same copays or coinsurance as physical health visits, thanks to mental health parity laws. Extended evaluations, particularly for complex developmental or behavioral concerns, may require multiple appointments but are still covered services. Therapy with psychologists or counselors is billed separately by those providers. My office can verify your specific insurance benefits and explain costs before beginning comprehensive behavioral health assessments.
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Yes, when appropriate, I prescribe medication for childhood anxiety and depression, particularly for moderate to severe symptoms that interfere with daily functioning and don’t respond adequately to counseling and behavioral interventions alone. I start with the lowest effective doses, monitor carefully for side effects and effectiveness, and maintain close communication with families during treatment. For complex cases or children needing multiple psychiatric medications, I often refer to child psychiatrists while continuing to coordinate overall care. My goal is using medication as one tool alongside therapy, coping skills, and family support to help children feel better and function well.
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Timelines vary significantly depending on the specific concern, severity, treatment approach, and individual child. Some children respond quickly to interventions – for example, ADHD medication often shows effects within days to weeks, while anxiety management techniques may reduce symptoms within several weeks of consistent practice. Other concerns like autism spectrum disorders or complex trauma require longer-term intervention with gradual progress over months to years. I set realistic expectations, monitor progress regularly, and adjust treatment plans when approaches aren’t working. Patience and consistency are important, as meaningful behavioral and emotional change takes time.
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Yes, many children and especially teenagers are reluctant to discuss emotions or admit they’re struggling. I use age-appropriate approaches to build trust and create safe space for difficult conversations, sometimes seeing older children alone to respect their privacy and independence. For younger children, play-based assessment and talking with parents about observed behaviors helps me evaluate concerns even when kids can’t articulate feelings. When children need more intensive support opening up, I refer to skilled therapists trained in engaging reluctant patients. The key is being patient, non-judgmental, and persistent in showing your child that asking for help is strength, not weakness.
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For complex mental health conditions, severe psychiatric symptoms, or specialized developmental disorders, I refer families to excellent child psychiatrists, psychologists, developmental pediatricians, and neurologists throughout Los Angeles and Beverly Hills. I maintain collaborative relationships with these specialists and continue serving as your child’s primary pediatrician who coordinates all care, monitors overall health, and remains your central point of contact. Referral to specialists doesn’t mean I’m passing you off – it means assembling the right team to address your child’s needs comprehensively. I explain why specialty care is recommended, provide trusted referrals, and stay involved throughout your child’s treatment journey.