Are you worried about your child or teen’s internet use?

To request an appointment, please download and complete this form and email to cimaid@childrens.harvard.edu or fax to (617) 730-0004. The form asks about your child’s media and technology use, their physical and mental health, and their academic and social experiences. 

While it’s not necessary to do so, we recommend that families seek a referral from their primary care physician or pediatrician, to ensure a seamless continuum of care (note that some insurance providers may require this; please check with your provider). 

If your child is 18 or older, please also have them complete this form and return with the intake form.

Our clinical team will review completed forms within 1-2 weeks to determine if our clinic is a good fit for your child’s needs. If it is determined to be a good fit, you will receive a phone call to schedule your child’s first appointment. If it is determined to not be a good fit, one of our team members will follow up via phone or email to suggest other options.

The first visit is typically 60-90 minutes and includes the parent(s) or guardian(s) and the child. This initial visit is typically conducted virtually, however in some cases the visit will be conducted in person. 

During the intake appointment, our clinician will talk with you and your child separately and together to better understand the issues surrounding your child’s media use. If it is determined that your child is experiencing Problematic Interactive Media Use (PIMU), your clinician will recommend a follow up session to develop a PIMU management plan.

Following your first visit, your clinician will work with you and your child on a Problematic Interactive Media Use (PIMU) management plan tailored to your child’s specific needs. Management plans may include:

• Medication, therapy, or consultation with your child’s current doctors and/or therapists;
• Guidance on establishing clear expectations around media use; and/or
• Guidance on other individual and family issues that may be affecting your child’s media use.

The goal when treating PIMU is to help your child develop healthier behaviors surrounding their media use, but behavioral change takes time. Depending on your child’s PIMU management plan, you can expect there to be 4 to 6 (virtual) follow up appointments of 30-60 minutes each. These sessions are designed to guide you and your child through the process of behavioral change and allow the provider to modify the PIMU management plan as needed.

Due to licensing requirements, all new patients must be physically within the state of Massachusetts for their first visit, even when it is conducted via telehealth. If it is prohibitive to come to Boston to be seen in person for the first visit, we can conduct the intake visit via telehealth as long as the patient is physically within the state of Massachusetts. All visits thereafter can be conducted via telehealth and across state lines.

Our waitlist fluctuates based on the patient’s availability and the schedule for their clinician. Currently, our clinicians typically see patients on Tuesdays. We are generally able to see new patients within 3-8 weeks. 

At Boston Children’s Hospital, we can see patients up to age 26, however, to ensure consistency of care, we typically accept new patients at CIMAID up to age 24. 

We accept all major insurance providers including MassHealth. If you require a referral or need to confirm that a specific provider is covered under your insurance, please contact us directly at cimaid@childrens.harvard.edu to be provided with your clinician’s medical number. 

Many children and teens suffering with Problematic Interactive Media Use do not see their use as a problem and don’t believe it’s necessary for them to come to CIMAID. In some cases, they may even refuse to attend their appointment. Here are some things you can do to prepare your child for their visit:

• Give your child advance notice; never surprise them with the CIMAID visit. In a non-confrontational manner, share your concerns and your desire to get a professional’s opinion on how their media use might be impacting their physical, mental, social, and emotional health.
• Explain to your child that you understand that media use is a part of everyday life and that CIMAID will work with them to acquire the tools they need to take control of their media use so it doesn’t interfere with their ability to live a healthy, fulfilling life.
• Many children and teens worry that they will have their devices taken away, either by the doctor or by their parents. Reassure your child that everyone involved will work together to create healthy guidelines around media use and that the goal is not to force them to “quit” their technology, games, or apps.
• Ask your child to think of questions to ask the doctor, so they can play an active role in their visit.