Mental health providers: Find one to suit your needs
Choosing mental health providers can be challenging. Try to match your needs with their experience and specialty. See what issues to consider and which questions to ask.
If you've never consulted mental health providers before, you may not know how to find one who suits your specific needs. Here are some issues and tips to think about, along with questions to ask potential mental health providers.
Consider the types of mental health providers
You may not realize just how many types of mental health providers are available until you start looking for one. Should you see a family practice doctor? A psychiatrist? Psychologist? Social worker? Does it even matter?
Several considerations can help guide your decision in choosing among the various types of mental health providers:
The severity of your symptoms
Your medication needs
The provider's level of expertise
Your health insurance coverage
In general, the more severe your symptoms or diagnosis, the more expertise and training to look for in your potential mental health providers. If you may need medications, for instance, you may want to consult a psychiatrist, who by law can prescribe medications and may have more experience with the wide range of psychiatric medications available. On the other hand, if you're dealing with teenage conflicts, you may want to consult a marriage and family therapist. You may even need to see several types of mental health providers to meet various needs.
Know if your health insurer selects mental health providers
Sometimes, you may not have a choice of mental health providers. Your health insurance company may dictate which type of mental health providers you can visit. It may even refer you to specific mental health providers. Your insurance company or Medicare or Medicaid can tell you what types of mental health providers it provides coverage for and what your benefit limits are. Some insurance plans, for instance, authorize more visits to a nurse, social worker or psychologist than to a psychiatrist, whose fees are usually higher.
Do some legwork to find mental health providers
Finding mental health providers takes some legwork. If you have depression or another serious mental illness, it can be difficult finding mental health providers on your own. You may not have the energy, focus or motivation. Instead, ask your primary care doctor, family or friends for help.
Here are some ways to find mental health providers:
Seek a referral or recommendation from your other health care providers, such as a family doctor, gynecologist or pediatrician.
Ask trusted friends, family or clergy.
Check phone book listings under such categories as community service numbers, counselors, physicians, psychologists or social services organizations.
Ask your health insurance company for a list.
Ask your company's employee assistance program for a referral.
Contact a local or national mental health organization or medical society.
Use a referral service from a national professional association for doctors or therapists.
Learn the characteristics of mental health providers
Your legwork doesn't stop once you have some potential mental health providers in mind. Before scheduling your first appointment, think about whether you have preferences or needs regarding:
Gender
Age
Religion
Language
Cultural background
Don't feel bad about ruling out some mental health providers based on these criteria. Your comfort level is important since you may be establishing a long-term relationship. Even tone of voice or appearance may matter to you. Although you usually won't know how mental health providers look ahead of time, some clinics, organizations or associations post pictures and biographies online, if you feel those characteristics are important to know.
Ask mental health providers lots of questions
Once you've found a few mental health providers who seem like they may suit you, it's time to call and ask a few more questions. In some cases, a receptionist may be able to answer most of your questions. You may be able to directly ask some mental health providers questions on the phone, or they may ask you to come in for an initial session.
Here are some issues to consider asking mental health providers about, either on the phone or at your first appointment:
Their education, training, licensure and years in practice. Licensing requirements can vary widely by state. You can double-check credentials by contacting your state's licensing boards.
Office hours, fees, length of sessions and which insurance providers they work with, or if they work with Medicare or Medicaid.
Their treatment approach and philosophy, to make sure it suits your style and needs.
Whether they specialize in certain disorders or age groups. Some, for instance, work only with adolescents. Others specialize in eating disorders or substance abuse.
Don't hesitate to ask lots of questions. Finding the right match is crucial to establishing rapport and making sure you're getting the best treatment.
Evaluate progress with your mental health provider
Once you choose a mental health provider, make sure the match is working. If you don't feel comfortable after the first visit, talk about your concerns at your next session. Or consider finding a new mental health provider. As time goes by, think about how you feel and whether your needs are being met. Don't feel compelled to stay with a mental health provider if you're not comfortable.
The process of choosing a mental health provider and the treatment itself can be hard work or downright painful. But it can also be rewarding. You may resolve long-standing conflicts, overcome personal challenges and ultimately enjoy your life more.
Consider the types of mental health providers
You may not realize just how many types of mental health providers are available until you start looking for one. Should you see a family practice doctor? A psychiatrist? Psychologist? Social worker? Does it even matter?
Several considerations can help guide your decision in choosing among the various types of mental health providers:
The severity of your symptoms
Your medication needs
The provider's level of expertise
Your health insurance coverage
In general, the more severe your symptoms or diagnosis, the more expertise and training to look for in your potential mental health providers. If you may need medications, for instance, you may want to consult a psychiatrist, who by law can prescribe medications and may have more experience with the wide range of psychiatric medications available. On the other hand, if you're dealing with teenage conflicts, you may want to consult a marriage and family therapist. You may even need to see several types of mental health providers to meet various needs.
Know if your health insurer selects mental health providers
Sometimes, you may not have a choice of mental health providers. Your health insurance company may dictate which type of mental health providers you can visit. It may even refer you to specific mental health providers. Your insurance company or Medicare or Medicaid can tell you what types of mental health providers it provides coverage for and what your benefit limits are. Some insurance plans, for instance, authorize more visits to a nurse, social worker or psychologist than to a psychiatrist, whose fees are usually higher.
Do some legwork to find mental health providers
Finding mental health providers takes some legwork. If you have depression or another serious mental illness, it can be difficult finding mental health providers on your own. You may not have the energy, focus or motivation. Instead, ask your primary care doctor, family or friends for help.
Here are some ways to find mental health providers:
Seek a referral or recommendation from your other health care providers, such as a family doctor, gynecologist or pediatrician.
Ask trusted friends, family or clergy.
Check phone book listings under such categories as community service numbers, counselors, physicians, psychologists or social services organizations.
Ask your health insurance company for a list.
Ask your company's employee assistance program for a referral.
Contact a local or national mental health organization or medical society.
Use a referral service from a national professional association for doctors or therapists.
Learn the characteristics of mental health providers
Your legwork doesn't stop once you have some potential mental health providers in mind. Before scheduling your first appointment, think about whether you have preferences or needs regarding:
Gender
Age
Religion
Language
Cultural background
Don't feel bad about ruling out some mental health providers based on these criteria. Your comfort level is important since you may be establishing a long-term relationship. Even tone of voice or appearance may matter to you. Although you usually won't know how mental health providers look ahead of time, some clinics, organizations or associations post pictures and biographies online, if you feel those characteristics are important to know.
Ask mental health providers lots of questions
Once you've found a few mental health providers who seem like they may suit you, it's time to call and ask a few more questions. In some cases, a receptionist may be able to answer most of your questions. You may be able to directly ask some mental health providers questions on the phone, or they may ask you to come in for an initial session.
Here are some issues to consider asking mental health providers about, either on the phone or at your first appointment:
Their education, training, licensure and years in practice. Licensing requirements can vary widely by state. You can double-check credentials by contacting your state's licensing boards.
Office hours, fees, length of sessions and which insurance providers they work with, or if they work with Medicare or Medicaid.
Their treatment approach and philosophy, to make sure it suits your style and needs.
Whether they specialize in certain disorders or age groups. Some, for instance, work only with adolescents. Others specialize in eating disorders or substance abuse.
Don't hesitate to ask lots of questions. Finding the right match is crucial to establishing rapport and making sure you're getting the best treatment.
Evaluate progress with your mental health provider
Once you choose a mental health provider, make sure the match is working. If you don't feel comfortable after the first visit, talk about your concerns at your next session. Or consider finding a new mental health provider. As time goes by, think about how you feel and whether your needs are being met. Don't feel compelled to stay with a mental health provider if you're not comfortable.
The process of choosing a mental health provider and the treatment itself can be hard work or downright painful. But it can also be rewarding. You may resolve long-standing conflicts, overcome personal challenges and ultimately enjoy your life more.
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