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School counselors are often asked when parents should seek professional help for a child.  The following article, which comes from the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP)  Facts for Families, offers guidelines for parents.   The AACAP also maintains a website with helpful information on a variety of mental health issues.  The site address is:  http://www.aacap.org/page.ww?name=Home&section=root

Parents are usually the first to recognize that their child has a problem with  emotions or behavior. Still, the decision to seek professional help can be difficult  and painful for a parent. The first step is to gently try to talk to the child. An honest  open talk about feelings can often help. Parents may choose to consult with the child's physicians, teachers, school counselor, members of the clergy, or other adults who know the child  well. These steps may resolve the problems for the child and family.

Signs which may indicate that a child/adolescent psychiatric evaluation would be useful.
                 
If problems persist over an extended period of time and especially if others involved in the child's life are concerned, consultation with a child and adolescent psychiatrist or other clinician specifically trained to work with children may be helpful.

The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) represents over 6,900 child and adolescent psychiatrists who are physicians with at least five years of additional training beyond medical school in general (adult) and child and adolescent psychiatry.