Transition-Age Psychiatry

Transition-Age Psychiatry in Pittsburgh

Thoughtful psychiatric care for older adolescents and young adults navigating the transition from high school into college, work, independent living, and adulthood. We help young people manage mental health while building the skills, supports, and confidence needed for what comes next.

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Physician-led Older teens & young adults McMurray Cranberry Township Telehealth across PA Insurance accepted

The transition to adulthood changes everything

Leaving high school often means losing familiar routines, school supports, parent-managed structure, and a predictable daily schedule—all while expectations for independence increase. College, employment, relationships, finances, healthcare, and everyday responsibilities can arrive at the same time.

For young adults with ADHD, anxiety, depression, autism, mood disorders, learning differences, or other mental health concerns, this period can be exciting and challenging. Our goal is not simply to treat symptoms. We help young people figure out how to function well in the life they are building.

What we help with

ADHD Anxiety Depression OCD Mood Disorders Autism-related Concerns Executive Functioning Sleep Problems College Adjustment Work & Career Transitions Stress & Burnout Emotional Regulation Independence Relationships

Mental health care for real-life transitions

Transition-age psychiatry considers not only symptoms and diagnoses, but also the developmental tasks young adults are trying to manage.

College & Training

Adjusting to less structure, heavier workloads, dorm or commuter life, new social environments, and greater responsibility for managing medications, appointments, sleep, and daily routines.

Work & Career

Managing attention, anxiety, organization, communication, schedules, performance expectations, workplace relationships, and the transition into employment.

Independent Adulthood

Building routines and skills around healthcare, self-advocacy, decision-making, relationships, responsibilities, and increasing independence from parents.

More than medication management

Medication can be helpful, but successful transition-age care often requires looking beyond medication.

We consider how symptoms affect school, work, relationships, sleep, executive functioning, independence, and everyday life. Treatment is individualized to the young person's goals, strengths, challenges, and stage of development.

✓Comprehensive psychiatric evaluation

✓Evidence-based medication management

✓Executive-function and organizational strategies

✓Support for school, college, and work transitions

✓Collaboration with therapists and other providers when helpful

✓Developmentally appropriate family involvement

Supporting independence without removing support

Growing independence

As young people move into adulthood, we encourage them to become increasingly active participants in their own care—understanding their diagnoses and medications, asking questions, communicating concerns, scheduling appointments, and learning to advocate for themselves.

Family can still matter

Turning 18 does not mean family support suddenly becomes irrelevant. When the young adult wants family involved, parents and caregivers can remain valuable partners while we also protect the young adult's privacy and growing autonomy.

College, work, and the path after high school

There is no single “right” path into adulthood. Some young people thrive in a four-year college environment. Others may do better with community college, technical training, employment, a gap year, or a more gradual transition toward independence.

College Support

We can help address psychiatric symptoms that interfere with academic functioning and discuss how treatment may need to change when a student moves from high school into a less structured college environment.

Work Support

We help young adults understand how attention, anxiety, mood, sleep, and other symptoms affect reliability, organization, communication, stress tolerance, and functioning at work.

Finding the Right Fit

Sometimes the challenge is not simply treating symptoms—it is identifying an environment, workload, level of structure, and set of expectations that fit the young person's needs and strengths.

Transition-age psychiatry services

Psychiatric Evaluations

Detailed assessment of symptoms, diagnoses, development, medical history, functioning, strengths, current demands, and treatment options.

Medication Management

Thoughtful prescribing and monitoring when medication is appropriate, with attention to both symptom improvement and real-world functioning.

Second Opinions

An in-depth review can help when diagnoses are unclear, treatment has become complicated, medications have not worked as expected, or a young adult needs a fresh perspective.

Two Pittsburgh-area locations + telehealth

We provide in-person psychiatric care in the Pittsburgh region and telehealth for appropriate psychiatric visits throughout Pennsylvania.

South Hills

McMurray

3055 Washington Road, Suite 101
McMurray, PA 15317

North

Cranberry Township

2009 Mackenzie Way, Suite 100
Cranberry Township, PA 16066

Insurance accepted

The Via Center participates with several major commercial insurance plans. Coverage varies by clinician and individual plan, so patients and families should confirm benefits directly with their insurer.

UPMC Highmark / BCBS Aetna United / Optum

Common questions about transition-age psychiatry

What is transition-age psychiatry?

Transition-age psychiatry focuses on the mental health needs of older adolescents and young adults as they move from high school and family-supported adolescence toward college, employment, independent living, and adult roles. Treatment considers both psychiatric symptoms and how those symptoms affect everyday functioning during this period of rapid change.

Can you help with the transition from high school to college?

Yes. College often brings major changes in structure, workload, sleep, social life, independence, and responsibility for managing one's own healthcare. We help young adults anticipate these changes and adjust treatment when ADHD, anxiety, depression, mood symptoms, autism, sleep problems, or other concerns interfere with functioning.

What if college is not the right next step?

College is only one path. We work with young adults entering employment, community college, technical or vocational programs, taking a gap year, or working toward independence more gradually. The goal is to help each person function successfully in a path that fits their strengths, needs, and goals.

Do you help young adults with ADHD and executive-function difficulties?

Yes. The loss of high-school structure can make ADHD and executive-function difficulties much more noticeable. Treatment may address attention and medication while also considering organization, time management, sleep, routines, task initiation, follow-through, and the demands of college or work.

Can parents still be involved after a young adult turns 18?

Yes, when the young adult wants them involved. Once a patient is an adult, we respect their privacy and autonomy, while recognizing that parents or caregivers may still be important sources of history, support, and practical help. The appropriate level of family involvement is discussed collaboratively.

Do you offer transition-age psychiatry by telehealth?

Telehealth is available for many psychiatric services when clinically appropriate. For psychiatric telehealth visits, the patient must be physically located in Pennsylvania at the time of the appointment.

Do you accept insurance?

We participate with UPMC commercial plans, Highmark/BCBS, Aetna, and United/Optum. Participation can vary by clinician and plan. Patients and families should confirm their individual benefits, copays, deductibles, and coverage directly with their insurer.

Looking for a psychiatrist for a young adult in Pittsburgh?

Tell us a little about what is going on and what kind of support you're looking for. Our team will review the screening questionnaire to determine whether we have a clinician who may be a good fit.

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