Children, Teens & Families
Child & Teen Psychiatrist for St. Petersburg Families
Two psychiatrists board-certified specifically in child and adolescent psychiatry — a short drive down the Bayway from St. Petersburg, with parents in the room.
Home / Child & Adolescent Psychiatry / St. Petersburg
Quick Answer
St. Petersburg families see Dr. Rachel McKenna or Dr. Alison Larson, D.O. at Haven Psychiatry & Wellness on Pinellas Bayway South for child and adolescent psychiatry. 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 — in person or by secure telemedicine once care is established.
St. Petersburg Patients
Why St. Petersburg Comes to Haven
The hardest psychiatric appointment to get in St. Petersburg is a child's. General adult practices will sometimes fit a teenager in; genuinely child-trained psychiatrists with new-patient availability are scarce, and families from Shore Acres, Old Northeast, and the Pinellas Point neighborhoods regularly tell us they were quoted waits of several months elsewhere before calling Haven.
Both of Haven's psychiatrists carry a second board certification in child & adolescent psychiatry — this is not an adult practice that also sees kids. Dr. Alison Larson, D.O. focuses much of her practice on pediatric and teen patients; Dr. Rachel McKenna treats children, adolescents, and their parents. A first evaluation covers developmental history, school functioning, and family context, with parents in the room and school or pediatrician input gathered where it helps.
Medication, when it is part of the plan, is started conservatively and followed closely. St. Petersburg families typically come in person for the evaluation and early adjustments, then move routine check-ins to secure telemedicine so a school-night follow-up does not require the drive down the Bayway.
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. St. Petersburg families choose either physician.
Read full credentials →Getting Here from St. Petersburg
From downtown St. Petersburg, I-275 south to exit 17, 54th Avenue South / Pinellas Bayway (SR 682), then west and south on SR 679 onto Tierra Verde. From the south side of the city, Pinellas Bayway South is a direct run.
A short drive south from most St. Petersburg neighborhoods via I-275 and the Pinellas Bayway.
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 St. Petersburg
Board-certified in child & adolescent psychiatry
Both Dr. McKenna and Dr. Larson hold the pediatric subspecialty certification, not just adult psychiatry — the difference St. Petersburg parents are usually searching for.
Parents in the room, school input welcome
Evaluations include family history and school functioning, with parents present and teacher or pediatrician input gathered where it helps the picture.
Conservative medication, close follow-up
When medication is appropriate it is started carefully and monitored closely; once stable, follow-ups can move to secure telemedicine around the school schedule.
Areas We Serve
St. Petersburg & Surrounding Areas
Patients travel to Haven from across Pinellas 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 St. Petersburg — FAQ
What ages do you see from St. Petersburg?
Children, adolescents, and adults. Both psychiatrists are board-certified in child & adolescent psychiatry as well as adult psychiatry, so a family can be seen in one practice.
Are parents part of the appointment?
Yes. Parents are in the room for a child's evaluation, and family history and school functioning are part of the assessment. For teenagers, part of the visit may be one-on-one at the physician's discretion.
Will my child be put on medication at the first visit?
Not automatically. The first visit is an evaluation. If medication is appropriate, it is discussed with parents, started conservatively, and followed closely.
Can follow-ups be done by telemedicine around school?
Once care is established, routine check-ins and medication management can typically be done by secure telemedicine from anywhere in Florida.
Book from St. Petersburg
Schedule online in under a minute, or call the office and we'll find a time that works around your drive.