888-710-PAND (7263)
888-710-PAND (7263)

Early Psychosis Intervention for Teens 13-17

All care provided to people ages 13-17 is cost-free and paid for by the California Early Psychosis Intervention Initiative.

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Cost-Free Care for Teens Ages 13-17

Before you Refer:

If possible, please complete and submit a Pre-Screen Form to determine first steps in determining teen care.
No family should face barriers to getting care. All services for eligible teens are fully funded through California’s Early Psychosis Initiative — making participation cost-free, regardless of insurance status. Both in-person and virtual (telehealth) sessions are available five days a week during normal business hours for flexible access to care.

Eligibility

  • Be between ages 13–17
  • Be within 2 years of onset of psychosis
  • Live within approximately 2 hours of Pand Health’s offices (11500 W. Olympic Blvd. #399, Los Angeles, CA 90064)

Teen Services

  • Individual and group therapy
  • Medication Management
  • Peer Support & Mentoring
  • Supported Education & Employment
  • Case Management
  • Family Behavioral Therapy
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Our program is for teens ages 13 - 17. We offer a coordinated specialty care program for early psychosis intervention. This specialized team-based care program offers:

  • Individual therapy
  • Family psychoeducation
  • Group therapy
  • Supported employment and education
  • Medication management
  • Case management

Participation in the program may include some or all of these services, depending upon clinical need and an individual’s interest in participating.

Therapy

Individual therapy is one-to-one with an individual therapist. Group therapy consists of small groups concentrating on the cognitive and social deficits that are prevalent in teens with continued psychosis.  Teens are exposed to clinically trialed cognitive therapies to promote recovery, executive functioning, and a better quality of life.

Coordinated Care

We collaborate with existing care teams without disturbing those trusted relationships. Our teen staff is familiar with school coordination, IEP goals and meetings, as well as appropriate accommodation requests for teens with early and later-stage psychosis. 

Family Education 

Family psychoeducation is available virtually to all families. Family psychoeducation is provided through a 16-week multifamily course to learn about the illness, recovery, and communication for a healthier long-term relationship. 

Group therapy consists of small groups concentrating on the many cognitive and social deficits that are prevalent in teens with continued psychosis.  This care promotes recovery and functioning, enhances quality of life, and educates families.

We teach teens using evidence-based modalities for people with psychosis, including computer-assisted cognitive remediation to improve mental speed and focus, how to test conclusions through metacognitive training, skills for social cognition, as well as individual resilience and distress tolerance skills. 

We collaborate with an individual’s existing care teams without disturbing those trusted relationships. Our teen staff is familiar with school coordination, IEP goals and meetings, as well as appropriate accommodation requests for teens with early and later-stage psychosis. Many of these supports are part of our overall teen case management for all teens participating in our care offerings.

We offer all services in-person and remotely, and family psychoeducation is available virtually to all families with participating teens. Family psychoeducation is provided through a 16-week multifamily course to learn about the illness, recovery, and communication for a healthier long-term relationship. Families are encouraged to attend this 16-week course, as we have found that success is often directly correlated to family participation.

 

Important Information Before You Refer:

Our California OnTrack for Teens program is designed for youth ages 13–17 who have commercial insurance (i.e., not Medi-Cal).

To help us determine eligibility and provide the most appropriate support, we ask that a brief pre-screening be completed first.

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Care Shouldn’t Be Out of Reach

We believe every teen deserves access to quality early psychosis care, regardless of financial circumstances. If your family is concerned about affordability, you may qualify for scholarship support through our program.

Learn how we can help make treatment more accessible for your teen.

Frequently Asked Questions

Got questions? You’re not alone. Here are some answers to help you understand how eligibility verification works, and how we support those seeking care every step of the way

Why am I being asked to complete the PQ-B?
The Prodromal Questionnaire-Brief (often referred to as the PQ-B) is a 21-item questionnaire designed to ask clients, ages 13+, about experiences they may be having, and if those experiences are worrisome or bothersome. These questions are NOT meant to be diagnostic. A score of 20 or higher indicates the need for additional evaluation by Pand Health.
If the Prodromal Questionnaire score is below 20, but I feel a referral is appropriate, can I still make the referral?

Yes you can! Even if an individual's score is below 20, if you feel the individual could benefit from care our cost-free teen program, we encourage you to call us.

Answers and the score on the Prodromal Questionnaire are instructive, but they are not determinative. In many cases, an individual may not remember, or chooses not to endorse, certain experiences. In other cases, an individual may be earlier in the "psychosis continuum" and be in the stage we call "clinically-high risk." We encourage you to refer any individual who you believe may benefit from our care based on your clinical judgement! Reach out to us anytime for consultation. 

What is the case status if a phone interview is requested?
You are simply asking them to allow Pand Health to call them, ask questions about their clinical presentation, and (if appropriate) describe the services offered. You are NOT “referring them out” and will continue to see them in your current role. We will follow up with you regarding the outcome of that conversation, including whether they qualify for the next phase of assessment, OR if other services may be more appropriate.
If the client/family does not agree to the phone interview, should I still make the referral?
Try to talk to the family or client again at a later date and see if they change their mind. Regardless, you should record your conversations in your charts and indicate if the individual completed the Prodromal Questionnaire.
How can I propose a phone interview with the client/family?
Feel free to use this script:
 
Based on the results of the screener and our conversation, I’d like to connect you with Pand Health to learn more about some of the experiences that have been bothering you / your child. Pand Health provides specialty services and assessments for adolescents who are experiencing recent changes in their thoughts, moods, and experiences. A conversation with Pand Health might be helpful for both of us, so that we can understand what is going on and learn how to best support you / your child moving forward. Can I have someone from Pand Health give you a phone call to ask you some questions to understand more about what you / your child shared today?
What is the eligibility verification assessment, and how is it different from the phone screen?
The eligibility verification assessment is our gold-standard in-depth assessment of the client's clinical presentation and symptoms. It is a 3-4 hour interview process that may or may not be broken up into two sessions depending on the client's ability to sit through long appointment times. Psychosocial functioning, psychosis, mood, substance use, and trauma is assessed during the interview, in addition to record review. Conversely, the phone screen focuses on demographics, social and role functioning, more general questions about mental health and developmental history, suicidality, substance-use, and psychotic and mood symptoms. 
Once the eligibility verification assessment is scheduled/completed, has the client been admitted to the program?
Please do not close the case! A client is not considered admitted until after an official determination call has been made and the client has completed all admission forms. The case review will then be reviewed by the clinical team to make the determination.
What is the determination call and who is a part of it?
An official determination will be provided to you and the client/family following a case review by the clinical team. During this determination call, a clinical team member will inform all parties whether or not Pand Health is the right place for the client to receive services, as well as provide information on the recommended clinical services. Additionally, during the determination call, the client /family will complete the admission policies and procedures, and consent forms for admission.
Does the client have to engage in all recommended clinical services?
Clients have the right to choose which recommended clinical services they are willing to engage in. For example, a client who is recommended for medication management, individual therapy, and a social skills group may only choose to participate in medication management.
Once the client/family has completed the admission forms, is the case ready to be closed?
Yes. :)
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Know the Signs of Early Psychosis and its Treatment

Care for teens ages 13-17 is cost-free and paid for through the California Early Psychosis Initiative, regardless of insurance status.

Cost-Free Care for Ages 13-17
What are the early signs of psychosis in teens?

Early warning signs of psychosis in teens can appear gradually and are often mistaken for “typical” teenage behavior.

Common symptoms include:

  • Withdrawing from friends or family

  • Decline in school performance

  • Trouble focusing or unusual thought patterns

  • Strong suspicions or beliefs that don’t match reality

  • Hearing, seeing, or sensing things others don’t

  • Intense changes in mood, anxiety, or sleep

If these changes feel different from your teen’s usual self, it may be more than stress or adolescence. Recognizing symptoms early is one of the most important steps in preventing a first episode of psychosis. At Pand Health, our California OnTrack for Teens program specializes in early psychosis detection and intervention for ages 13–17.

How is psychosis treated in young people?

Psychosis in young people is best treated with coordinated specialty care (CSC), a holistic model proven to improve recovery outcomes.

Treatment often includes:

  • Individual therapy and small group sessions

  • Cognitive remediation to improve focus and thinking skills

  • Psychiatry and medication management

  • Family education and support groups

  • School and IEP coordination

  • Case management and resilience skill-building

At Pand Health, our team uses evidence-based approaches tailored for teens and young adults. We combine therapy, skill training, and family involvement to promote long-term recovery while supporting daily functioning.

How long does psychosis treatment take?

Psychosis treatment is not one-size-fits-all. For many teens and young adults, the first two years after a first episode are critical for long-term recovery. Early, consistent care can reduce relapse risk and improve functioning in school, work, and relationships.

At Pand Health, treatment plans are customized to each individual and may last from several months to multiple years, depending on needs. Our goal is not just symptom reduction but helping young people and their families build stability, resilience, and hope for the future.

Can psychosis be cured or fully managed?

While there is no single “cure” for psychosis, early intervention makes recovery possible. Many young people treated early go on to live meaningful, independent lives with strong symptom management. With the right support, psychosis can be effectively managed through therapy, medication, and social supports.

 

At Pand Health, we see psychosis treatment as more than managing symptoms; it’s about helping teens and families restore futures, improve quality of life, and prevent long-term disability. With evidence-based care, the outlook is far more hopeful than many people realize.

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