How to Find a Child Psychologist or Pediatrician in Illinois: A Parent’s Guide

Looking for a pediatrician, child psychologist or child psychiatrist in Illinois? Parenting Pathway lists 758 child health and mental health providers across Illinois. This guide explains where to start, how to pay for care and which free state programs can help your family.

Start with a pediatrician

For most concerns, including behavior, anxiety, attention, sleep or development, your child’s pediatrician is the best first step. They can rule out physical causes, screen for common conditions and refer you to the right specialist. Many Illinois pediatricians also diagnose and manage ADHD themselves. Not sure who does what? Read pediatrician vs child psychologist vs child psychiatrist.

Browse providers in Illinois by type:

• Pediatricians in Illinois
• Child Psychologists in Illinois
• Child Psychiatrists in Illinois
• All providers in Illinois by city

Paying for care in Illinois

If you have private insurance, call the number on your card to check your mental health benefits, whether you need a referral and whether testing needs prior authorization. Federal parity law means most plans cannot make mental health care harder to access than medical care. Our guide to finding a child psychologist covered by insurance walks you through it.

Children in Illinois may qualify for free or low-cost coverage through All Kids, Illinois’s health coverage program for children, run by the Department of Healthcare and Family Services. You can check eligibility and find your state’s application at InsureKidsNow.gov. For typical prices, see how much a child psychologist costs.

Babies and toddlers: free early intervention

If your child is under 3 and you are worried about how they are developing, such as their speech, movement, play or social skills, you can contact Illinois Early Intervention Program, the early intervention program for Illinois, directly. You do not need a referral from a doctor, and evaluations are free. Our milestone checker shows what most children do at each age.

School-age children: help through school

From age 3, your local public school district must evaluate children who may have a disability affecting their learning, at no cost to you. Ask in writing for an evaluation. If your child qualifies, they may receive support through an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or a 504 plan, which can include counseling, accommodations and classroom support.

Children’s hospitals and specialist care in Illinois

Major pediatric centers include Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, Comer Children’s Hospital at UChicago, Advocate Children’s Hospital and OSF HealthCare Children’s Hospital of Illinois in Peoria. Specialist services such as developmental-behavioral pediatrics, child psychiatry and neuropsychological testing are often based at these centers, and waits can be long, so ask your pediatrician to refer early if they think it is needed.

Outside the Chicago area, child mental health specialists can be harder to find, so telehealth and pediatric practices with on-site behavioral health staff are worth asking about.

If your child is in crisis

If your child is at risk of harming themselves or others, call or text 988 (the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline), go to your nearest emergency department or call 911.

Find providers in Illinois’s largest cities

• Pediatricians and child psychologists in Chicago (140 listed)
• Pediatricians and child psychologists in Naperville (35 listed)
• Pediatricians and child psychologists in Springfield (19 listed)
• Pediatricians and child psychologists in Oak Lawn (15 listed)
• Pediatricians and child psychologists in Arlington Heights (14 listed)
• Pediatricians and child psychologists in Park Ridge (14 listed)
• Pediatricians and child psychologists in Peoria (12 listed)
• Pediatricians and child psychologists in Wheaton (12 listed)
• Pediatricians and child psychologists in Northbrook (12 listed)
• Pediatricians and child psychologists in Hoffman Estates (11 listed)
• Pediatricians and child psychologists in Skokie (11 listed)
• Pediatricians and child psychologists in Glenview (11 listed)

See every city in Illinois.

This guide is general information, not medical advice. Program names and eligibility rules can change, so check official state sources for the latest details.