Children's Health Council - Palo Alto

Surrounding Clark Way in Palo Alto, this outpatient center, founded in 1953, treats ADHD, anxiety, depression, autism, OCD, trauma, self-harm and suicidality through therapy, psychiatry, evaluations, and the RISE intensive outpatient program (IOP). It also operates on-site schools where students receive academic instruction alongside clinical services. Clinicians and educators work on one campus, providing care through therapy sessions, assessments, and school-based support with direct coordination between academic and clinical teams.

Multidisciplinary Therapy and Program Integration

Clinicians provide 1-to-1 psychotherapy, including play-based therapy for young children, group-based dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), family therapy, and parent coaching, while psychiatrists assess needs and adjust medications during follow-up visits. Teams coordinate learning support and autism services by connecting assessment results, therapy sessions, and school plans, while early intervention programs such as the Early Support Program for Autism (ESPA) guide families after diagnosis.

RISE IOP and School-Based Structure

Teens ages 13–18 attend the RISE intensive outpatient program four days a week from 3 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. and participate in DBT groups, mindfulness activities, and family sessions, while clinicians provide phone coaching between sessions. Students attend classes at one of the on-site schools, such as the Esther B. Clark School, complete academic work in small-group settings, and receive clinical services during the day as staff coordinate education plans with therapy and psychiatric care.