Finding a Mental Health Provider for Youth With IBD: ICN Guide
Content note: Educational content aligned with publicly available patient materials from the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation and other major IBD education sources. IBDPal is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Foundation. Last reviewed June 2026. Not individual medical advice.
Educational use only. IBDPal does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your gastroenterologist or IBD care team for personal decisions.
Comprehensive IBD care increasingly includes mental health. The ImproveCareNow Finding a Mental Health Provider Guide is a four-page co-produced resource from ICN's Social Worker and Psychologist (SWAP) group.
What the guide explains
- Why addressing mental health is part of whole-person IBD care
- How to find and vet a mental health provider
- What to expect during counseling sessions
- Working with your GI team alongside therapy
Downloads
English and Spanish PDF versions are on the ICN tools page:
- Finding a Mental Health Provider Guide (English)
- Finding a Mental Health Provider Guide (Spanish)
When to use this guide
Consider it if your child has persistent anxiety about flares, school avoidance, low mood, sleep disruption, or difficulty adjusting to diagnosis or medications. Pair with IBDPal's depression and anxiety article and stress coping strategies.
Related: stress and anxiety guide, pediatric caregivers, teens and social life.
Read the full interactive version on ibdpal.org.