Developmental, Behavioral & Mental Health

Modern and proven treatments and therapies in a nurturing environment

Child and Adolescent Services & Providers

Children and young people are special, with unique needs and concerns. The doctors and care providers at UTMB Health understand them, and we can help when something is amiss. Our caring mental health specialists offer state-of-the-art treatment and therapies in a nurturing environment. Let us work with your family to overcome the problems that may be keeping your child or teenager from blossoming during their critical developmental years. Let's begin the healing. We offer a range of services including:

Evaluation and Diagnosis
Medication Management
Therapy

At UTMB Health, you have a choice

Mental and behavioral health services for children and adolescents are provided by different types and teams of professionals and in different settings, based on a child or adolescent's needs and circumstances. They include:

Psychiatrists, Psychologists, Social Workers and Counselors specializing in children, teens and young adults
Pediatricians with expertise in Developmental and Behavioral Health
Pediatric Psychologists and Mental Health Counselors
Family Therapists & Counselors at UTMB Family Medicine Clinics

Find a Specialist

Access MyChart

Meet the Team

Psychiatrists, Psychologists, Social Workers and Counselors

UTMB psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers and counselors work together to help your child or young person overcome challenges and begin healing. This team offers care for the following types of conditions:

Anxiety disorders
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD, ADD)
Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)
Behaviors that contribute to chronic health conditions such as asthma, diabetes, or high blood pressure
Bipolar disorder (Manic-Depressive Illness)
Borderline personality disorder
Depression
Disruptive mood
Dysregulation disorder
Eating disorders
HIV/AIDS and mental health
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Schizophrenia
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
Sleep problems
Substance use/abuse and mental health
Suicide prevention
Traumatic events, stressful life situations or crises, loss or grief

Locations:

Expand All

Pediatric Psychiatry, Friendswood
- 128 West Parkwood Avenue
- M–F: 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
- (281) 482-5695
- (281) 482-3963
- Website
Pediatric Psychiatry, Texas City
- 10121 Emmett F. Lowry Expressway
- M–F: 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
- (281) 338-2798
- (409) 938-1827
- Website
Psychiatry, PCP Galveston
- 400 Harborside Drive
  Suites 118-119, Entrance B
- M–F: 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
- (409) 772-0770
- (409) 747-4010
- Website
Psychiatry, South Shore
- 6465 South Shore Blvd
  Suite 500
- M–F: 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
- (281) 538-7735
- (281) 538-3936
- Website
Psychiatry, Webster
- 400 Texas Avenue North
  Suite A
- M–F: 7:45 a.m.–5 p.m.
- (281) 338-2798
- (281) 557-2027
- Website

DeFilippis, Melissa

Melissa DeFilippis, MD

Psychiatry and Behavioral Health - Child & Adolescent

Falls, Lisa

Lisa Falls, MD

Psychiatry and Behavioral Health - Child & Adolescent

Hamblin, Rebecca

Rebecca Hamblin, PhD

Psychology and Behavioral Health - Child & Adolescent

Hasan, Sayyeda

Sayyeda Hasan, MD

Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences - Child & Adolescent

Machen, Laurel

Laurel Machen, LCSW

Licensed Clinical Social Worker - Adult & Child

Mallett, Robin

Robin Mallett, MD

Psychiatry and Behavioral Health - Child & Adolescent

Malone, Josephine

Josephine Malone, LCSW

Licensed Clinical Social Worker - Child & Adolescent

Shotwell, Joseph

Joseph Shotwell, MD

Psychiatry and Behavioral Health - Child & Adolescent

Trinh, Angeline

Angeline Trinh, MD

Psychiatry and Behavioral Health - Child & Adolescent

Wigg, Cindy

Cindy Wigg, MD

Psychiatry and Behavioral Health - Child & Adolescent

Wolf, Dwight

Dwight Wolf, MD

Psychiatry and Behavioral Health - Child & Adolescent

Developmental and Behavioral Health Pediatricians and Advance Practice Providers

Our board-certified, behavioral/developmental team provides behavioral evaluation and treatment for children and adolescents and their families.

Our services include, but are not limited to, the diagnosis and treatment of:

ADHD and related symptoms, such as anxiety, depression, learning problems, and habit problems
- The ADHD Tune-up is for the ADHD patient who has been diagnosed and is under treatment, but not doing as well as expected. We will optimize therapy in already diagnosed patients and review in detail the risk or presence of un-diagnosed co-morbid conditions.
Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
Irritability and aggression
Language delay
Performance anxiety
Unexplained abdominal pain

Treatment consists of a balanced approach, including medicines, behavioral advice, parenting strategies and school recommendations. Special techniques such as biofeedback, hypnosis and relaxation training are recommended in selected cases.

Locations:

Expand All

Pediatric Development/Behavior, Bay Colony
- 2785 Gulf Freeway South
  Suite 2.200
- M–F: 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
- (409) 772-3695 or (888) 886-2543
- (409) 772-3680
- Website

Mays, Katherine, MS, PA-C

Katherine Mays, MS, PA-C

Pediatric Developmental and Behavioral Health

Ruemmele, Kelly

Kelly Ruemmele, PNP, MSN

Maternal and Child Specialist - Children's Health

Coon, Alexa

Alexa Coon, DO, FAAP

Pediatric Developmental and Behavioral Health

Pediatric Psychologists and Mental Health Counselors

Our licensed psychologists and mental health counselors provide assessment and treatment, including individual and family therapy for emotional and behavioral problems. We tailor treatment to the patient and family, providing evidence-based therapies as appropriate: e.g., cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), trauma-informed therapy, and relationship-based therapy.

All services are available for children and youth from ages two to twenty-one, addressing a variety of needs including:

Adjustment to chronic illness
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Autism
Depression and anxiety
Non-compliance
Psychological, psychoeducational, and neuropsychological assessment services
Sleep problems
Temper tantrums
Traumatic events, stressful life situations or crises, loss or grief

Locations:

Expand All

Pedi Psychology/Mental Health, Bay Colony
- 2785 Gulf Freeway South
  Suite 2.200
- M–F: 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
- (409) 772-3695 or (888) 886-2543
- (409) 772-3680
- Website
Pedi Psychology/Mental Health, Galveston
- 6416 Broadway
- M–F: 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
- (409) 772-3695 or (888) 886-2543
- (409) 772-3680
- Website
Pedi Psychology/Mental Health, PCP Galveston
- 400 Harborside Drive
  Suite 103, Entrance A
- M–F: 7:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m.
- (409) 772-3695 or toll free (888) 886-2543
- (409) 772-3680
- Website

Darban, Behnaz

Behnaz Darban, PSY.D

Psychology and Mental Health - Child & Adolescent

Dunn, Amanda, LCSW

Amanda Dunn, LCSW

Mental Health Counselor - Child & Adolescent

Martinez, Irma, MA, LPC-S

Irma Martinez, MA, LPC-S

Mental Health Counselor - Child & Adolescent

Niebuhr, Virginia, PhD

Virginia Niebuhr, PhD

Psychology and Mental Health - Child & Adolescent

Family Therapists & Counselors at Family Medicine Clinics

Parents and patients at our Family Medicine clinics in Dickinson, Galveston Island East and Galveston Island West can speak to their primary care provider about seeing one of our family therapists, licensed social workers or counselors for mental health services.

This team provides assistance for the following needs:

Anxiety disorders
Behaviors that contribute to chronic health conditions such as asthma, diabetes, or high blood pressure
Depression
Family Counseling
Sleep Problems
Stress-related physical symptoms
Traumatic events, stressful life situations or crises, loss or grief