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Children’s Hospital Colorado Mental Health Clinical Services and Estimated Wait Times
The Pediatric Mental Health Institute offers a continuum of evidence-based, family-focused clinical services designed to support the unique needs of youth based on their age, presenting concerns, acuity and geography.
The wait times and waitlists below are estimates only and updated on a weekly basis. To get the most up-to-date information, please call (720) 777-6200. Our behavioral health placement specialists can answer your questions and conduct a phone screening to help determine if our programs may be a good fit for children in your care.
PMHI is currently accepting referrals to our outpatient programs from Children’s Hospital Colorado providers. At this time, due to our program capacity limitations, referrals received from community pediatric practices will be reviewed and accepted on a case-by-case basis pending program availability and waitlist capacity. Please note, we do not require a referral to our higher level of care programs, including partial hospitalization.
Updated as of: 1/28/2025
Estimated Wait Times Legend: Green- Immediate to 3 weeks, Yellow- 4 to 8 weeks, Red- 9+ weeks, Grey- Not currently offered
Clinical services
|
Clinical Program |
Location |
Program Description and Capacity |
Estimated Wait Time |
Hours |
Ages Served |
Who Can Refer |
|
|
Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora
|
Patients Served: Youth experiencing disordered eating conditions and malnutrition Max Capacity: 22 |
1-4 weeks |
Seven days a week, excluding holidays. Extended Day: 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Regular Day: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
6 to 18 |
Self referral, community referral or Children's Colorado provider referral |
||
|
Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora
|
Patients Served: Youth with a chronic medical illness that prevents them from attending a traditional school setting *Must have primary or secondary Medicaid.
Max Capacity: 20 |
Immediate openings |
Monday-Friday
7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. |
7 to 18 |
Self referral, community referral or Children's Colorado provider referral |
||
|
Neuropsychiatric Special Care Partial Hospitalization Program |
Patients Served: Youth with an intellectual or developmental disability experiencing acute emotional or behavioral difficulties negatively impacting their ability to function at their home, school or community
Max Capacity: 18 |
Child: 3 to 4 months Teen: 3 to 4 months |
Monday-Friday
8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. |
4 to 18 |
Self referral, community referral or Children's Colorado provider referral |
||
|
Patients Served: Acute emotional (anxiety, depression, anger, self-harm) or behavioral difficulties that are negatively impacting their ability to function at their home, school and community Max Capacity: 30 |
Child: 4 weeks Tween: 2 weeks Teen: 2 weeks |
Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. |
6 to 17 | Self referral, community referral or Children's Colorado provider referral | |||
|
Patients Served: Acute emotional (anxiety, depression, anger, self-harm) or behavioral difficulties that are negatively impacting their ability to function at their home, school and community Max Capacity: 16 |
Tween: 1 week Teen: 1 week
|
Monday-Friday
8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. |
Classroom Ages: Tween: 11 to 14 Teen: 15 to 17 |
Self referral, community referral or Children's Colorado provider referral |
|||
|
Patients Served: Acute emotional (anxiety, depression, anger, self-harm) or behavioral difficulties that are negatively impacting their ability to function at their home, school and community Max Capacity: 16 |
Child: 3-4 weeks Teen: 2 weeks |
Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. |
Classroom Ages: Child: 12 and under Teen: 13 to 17 |
Self referral, community referral or Children's Colorado provider referral |
|||
|
Anxiety Intensive Outpatient Program – Child |
Patients Served: Youth with an anxiety disorder or obsessive-compulsive disorder and experiencing functional impairment due to these symptoms Max Capacity: 7 |
4-6 weeks |
Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays
3 p.m. to 6 p.m. |
8 to 12 |
Self referral, community referral or Children's Colorado provider referral |
||
|
Anxiety Intensive Outpatient Program – Teen |
Patients Served: Youth with an anxiety disorder or obsessive-compulsive disorder and experiencing functional impairment due to these symptoms Max Capacity: 7 |
2- weeks
|
Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. |
13 to 18 |
Self referral, community referral or Children's Colorado provider referral |
||
A Children's Colorado provider referral is required for patients to access the outpatient clinical services listed below in our Denver Metro locations. |
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|
Outpatient Intake |
Patients Served: Youth experiencing emotional or behavioral difficulties and their families Denver metro locations only: Patients must be referred by a Children’s Colorado provider to be seen in the outpatient clinic. Youth and families will participate in a two-session intake to gather information about current concerns and provide tailored treatment recommendations. |
Denver Metro: 1 week - 3 months dependent on location
Southern Colorado: 3 months |
Monday-Thursday: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. |
0 to 18 |
Children's Colorado provider referral order required for Denver Metro locations |
||
|
Comprehensive Dialectical Behavior Therapy |
Patients Served: Youth who have significant difficulty regulating emotions and using effective coping skills; experience suicidality, self-harm or engage in other risky behaviors (e.g., substance use, running away, etc.) Duration: Six-months to 1-year commitment Max Capacity: 16-20 families |
All locations: 6 months |
Monday-Thursday: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. |
13 to 18 |
Higher level of care or outpatient Children's Colorado provider complex scheduling providers. Reach out to Marissa Nunes-Moreno, Ph.D. directly to discuss all referrals. |
||
Group therapy
|
Group Therapy |
Location |
Description and Capacity |
Families on Waitlist |
Hours |
Ages Served |
Who Can Refer |
|
Anxiety Cognitive Behavior Therapy Group – Teen |
Patients Served: Teens with an anxiety and/or obsessive-compulsive disorder diagnosis and their caregiver(s). Duration: 10 weeks Max Capacity: 10 |
2 |
Tuesdays 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. |
13 to 17 |
Higher level of care or outpatient Children's Colorado provider complex scheduling order required |
|
|
AFFIRM Group –Caregiver |
Virtual |
Patients Served: Parents and caregivers of LGBTQ+ youth who are interested in enhancing their relationship with their child by learning affirming and compassionate parenting behaviors Duration: 8 weeks Max Capacity: 10 |
2 |
Wednesdays 4:30 p.m. - 6 p.m. |
Parents and caregivers of children aged 0 to 18 |
Higher level of care or outpatient Children's Colorado provider complex scheduling order required |
|
AFFIRM Cognitive Behavior Therapy Group – ages 11-14 |
Virtual |
Patients Served: LGBTQ+ children who are interested in developing healthy coping skills and self-compassion, overcoming negative self-beliefs, and obtaining social support from other LGBTQ+ children. Duration: 10 weeks Max Capacity: 8 |
2 |
Thursdays 4:30 to 6 p.m. |
11 to 14 |
Higher level of care or outpatient Children's Colorado provider complex scheduling order required |
|
AFFIRM Cognitive Behavior Therapy Group – ages 15-18 |
Virtual |
Patients Served: LGBTQ+ youth who are interested in developing healthy coping skills and self-compassion, overcoming negative self-beliefs, and obtaining social support from other LGBTQ+ youth. Duration: 9 weeks Max Capacity: 10 |
3 |
Thursdays 4:30 to 6 p.m. |
15 to 18 |
Higher level of care or outpatient Children's Colorado provider complex scheduling order required |
|
Autism Spectrum Disorder Group – Caregiver |
Virtual |
Patients Served: Parents and caregivers of youth with autism spectrum disorder Duration: 8 weeks Max Capacity: 15 |
11 |
Wednesdays 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. |
Parents and caregivers of children aged 7 to 14 |
Higher level of care or outpatient Children's Colorado provider complex scheduling order required |
|
Autism Spectrum Disorder Group – Teen |
Virtual |
Patients Served: Teens with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and co-occurring psychiatric diagnosis. Duration: 11 weeks Max Capacity: 10 |
9 |
Wednesdays 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. |
13 to 17 |
Higher level of care or outpatient Children's Colorado provider complex scheduling order required |
|
Building and Sustaining Exposures Group |
Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora
|
Patients Served: Youth with an anxiety and/or obsessive-compulsive disorder diagnosis
Teens must have previously engaged in exposure-based treatment and need additional exposure therapy.
Duration: 6 weeks Max Capacity: 8 |
Immediate openings |
Tuesdays 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. |
12 to 18 |
Higher level of care or outpatient Children's Colorado provider complex scheduling order required |
|
Challenging Behaviors Brief Behavioral Parenting Group – Caregiver |
Virtual |
Patients Served: Parents and caregivers of young children with behavior difficulties
Duration: 6 weeks Max Capacity: 8 |
14 |
Tuesdays 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesdays 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. Thursdays 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. |
Parents and caregivers of children aged 3 to 7 |
Higher level of care or outpatient Children's Colorado provider complex scheduling order required |
|
Challenging Behaviors Brief Behavioral Parenting Group – Spanish Speaking Caregiver |
Virtual
|
Patients Served: Spanish speaking caregivers of young children with behavior difficulties.
Duration: 6 weeks Max Capacity: 8 |
5 |
Thursdays 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. |
Caregivers of children aged 3 to 7 |
Higher level of care or outpatient Children's Colorado provider complex scheduling order required |
|
Collaborative Coping Group |
Patients Served: Children with behavior difficulties and their caregivers
Duration: 8 weeks Max Capacity: 15 |
8 |
Tuesdays 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. |
8 to 12 |
Higher level of care or outpatient Children's Colorado provider complex scheduling order required |
|
|
Collaborative Coping Group – Caregiver |
Virtual |
Patients Served: Parents and caregivers of children with behavior difficulties
Duration: 8 weeks Max Capacity: 15 |
8 |
Wednesdays 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. |
Caregivers of children aged 8 to 12 |
Higher level of care or outpatient Children's Colorado provider complex scheduling order required |
|
Defeat Anxiety, Rock Exposures Group |
|
Patients Served: Children with an anxiety and/or obsessive-compulsive disorder diagnosis and their caregivers
Duration: 10 weeks Capacity: 6 |
3 |
Wednesdays 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. |
8 to 12 |
Higher level of care or outpatient Children's Colorado provider complex scheduling order required |
|
Unified Protocol Group – Child |
Virtual |
Patients Served: Children who are experiencing difficulties coping with a variety of strong, negative emotions such as anxiety, sadness or anger and their caregivers Duration: 10 weeks Max Capacity: 8 |
12 |
Thursdays 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. |
7 to 12 |
Higher level of care or outpatient Children's Colorado provider complex scheduling order required |
|
Unified Protocol Group – Teen |
Virtual |
Patients Served: Teens who are experiencing difficulties coping with a variety of strong, negative emotions such as anxiety, sadness or anger and their caregivers
Duration: 10 weeks Max Capacity: 12 |
9 |
Thursdays 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. |
13 to 17 |
Higher level of care or outpatient Children's Colorado provider complex scheduling order required |
|
Unstuck and On Target Group – Caregiver |
Virtual |
Patients Served: Parents and caregivers of neurodiverse youth (i.e., autism spectrum disorder or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) and co-occurring psychiatric diagnosis Duration: 8 weeks Max Capacity: 25
|
10 |
Tuesdays 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. |
Parents or caregivers of children aged 8 to 11 |
Higher level of care or outpatient Children's Colorado provider complex scheduling order required |
|
Unstuck and On Target Group – Middle School |
Patients Served: Neurodiverse youth (i.e., autism spectrum disorder or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) and co-occurring psychiatric diagnosis
Duration: 10 weeks Max Capacity: 10 |
9 |
Anschutz: Thursdays 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
|
11 to 13 |
Higher level of care or outpatient Children's Colorado provider complex scheduling order required |
|
|
Unstuck and On Target Group – Youth |
Patients Served: Neurodiverse youth (i.e., autism spectrum disorder or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) and co-occurring psychiatric diagnosis
Duration: 8 weeks Max Capacity: 10 |
6 |
Anschutz: Thursdays 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Highlands Ranch: Wednesdays 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. |
8 to 11 |
Higher level of care or outpatient Children's Colorado provider complex scheduling order required |
Individual and family therapy
|
Individual and Family Therapy |
Locations |
Description and Capacity |
Admission Information |
Hours |
Ages Served |
Who Can Refer |
|
Individual and Family Therapies |
Denver Metro: |
Patients Served: Youth experiencing a wide range of emotional and/or behavioral concerns. |
Estimated Wait Time: Denver metro: 2 weeks Telstar: 1 week |
Monday-Thursday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. |
0 to 18 |
Patients must either be stepping down from a higher level of care program or have completed an intake with an outpatient provider to be referred to individual, family and group therapies. |