East Hillsborough
Child & Teen Psychiatrist for Brandon Families
Two psychiatrists board-certified specifically in child and adolescent psychiatry, in person across the bay at our Pinellas Bayway office, with video follow-ups that fit around Hillsborough school schedules.
Home / Child & Adolescent Psychiatry / Brandon
Quick Answer
Brandon families see Dr. Alison Larson, D.O. or Dr. Rachel McKenna of Haven Psychiatry & Wellness for child and adolescent psychiatry, in person on Pinellas Bayway South across the Gandy Bridge or by secure telehealth from home. Both physicians hold board certification in child & adolescent psychiatry in addition to adult psychiatry; evaluations are unhurried, parents are part of the process, and medication is prescribed conservatively with close follow-up.
Brandon Patients
Why Brandon Comes to Haven
East Hillsborough is one of the fastest-growing family markets in Tampa Bay — Valrico, FishHawk Ranch, Bloomingdale, and Riverview are full of school-age children — and the supply of psychiatrists actually board-certified in child and adolescent psychiatry has not kept pace. Brandon parents typically reach us after a pediatrician, a school counselor, or a therapist said 'you need a child psychiatrist' and the nearest one taking new patients was months out.
The practical problem for Brandon families is the school day. A cross-bay round trip for a 30-minute medication check costs a child most of a school day and a parent most of a work day. Most Brandon families come in person for the evaluation — parents generally want to meet the physician who will be treating their child — and then keep routine follow-ups on secure telehealth in the late afternoon, after the bus, with in-person visits whenever the family or the physician prefers them.
Dr. Larson focuses much of her practice on children and teens, and Dr. McKenna treats children, adolescents, and their parents, so a Brandon family where a parent also needs care can stay within one practice. Neither physician starts a child on medication reflexively; the first visit is about understanding what is happening at home, at school, and with sleep before anything is prescribed.
Haven's child and adolescent psychiatry covers evaluation and treatment for ADHD, anxiety, depression, mood disorders, autism spectrum concerns, and more, for children and teens, with parents involved throughout. Full detail on the approach and conditions treated is on the Child & Adolescent Psychiatry page.
Who You'll See
Dr. Larson focuses much of her practice on children and teens; Dr. McKenna treats children, adolescents, and their parents. Families choose either physician and keep that physician.
Read full credentials →Getting Here from Brandon
From Brandon, the Selmon Expressway (SR 618) west to Gandy Boulevard, across the Gandy Bridge, then I-275 south to exit 17, 54th Avenue South / Pinellas Bayway (SR 682); west on the Bayway and south on SR 679 onto Tierra Verde. From Riverview or FishHawk, I-75 north to the Selmon is usually the quickest way onto that route.
A cross-bay drive; Selmon and Gandy Bridge traffic sets the time, so Brandon patients tend to book the first slot of the morning or the last of the afternoon.
Free surface parking directly outside Suite 102 — no garage, no meter, no validation.
Haven Psychiatry & Wellness
1110 Pinellas Bayway South, Suite 102
Tierra Verde, FL 33715
813-567-5675
What's Different
Worth the Drive from Brandon
Certified in child psychiatry, not just 'sees kids'
Both Haven physicians hold formal child & adolescent board certification. Many practices in the Brandon area list pediatric patients without that training.
Follow-ups that do not cost a school day
Once care is established, Brandon families can keep routine follow-ups on secure video after school hours and come across the bay for the visits they or the physician want in person.
Parents in the room, every time
Evaluations and follow-ups include a parent or guardian, whether the visit is on video from Valrico or in the office on the Bayway.
Areas We Serve
Brandon & Surrounding Areas
Patients travel to Haven from across Hillsborough County. These are the areas we see most often.
Not on the list? See all service areas or call 813-567-5675.
Common Questions
Child & Adolescent Psychiatry in Brandon — FAQ
What ages do you see from Brandon?
Children, adolescents, and young adults. Both physicians are board-certified in child & adolescent psychiatry and in adult psychiatry, so care continues without a hand-off when a teen turns eighteen.
Can the first visit be by telehealth?
Yes, if you prefer it. Most Brandon families choose an in-person evaluation at the office on Pinellas Bayway South, one cross-bay drive away, but the initial evaluation can also be done by secure video with a parent present.
Will my child be put on medication at the first visit?
Not as a rule. The first visit is an evaluation. If medication is recommended, the reasoning, the options, and the monitoring plan are discussed with the family before anything is prescribed.
Do you work with Hillsborough County schools on 504 or IEP paperwork?
The physician can provide diagnostic documentation and treatment summaries for school accommodation requests when clinically appropriate. Bring any existing school evaluations to the first visit.
Also at Haven
Related Care
Book from Brandon
Schedule online in under a minute, or call the office and we'll find a time that works around your drive.