The process of finding the right mental health professional might be a major step toward improving your mental health and well-being. Whatever anxiety or depression you face, having proper support can make a big difference in such situations. This guide will lead you through the process involved in finding a mental health professional who best suits your unique needs and preferences.
Knowing Your Mental Health Care Providers
When seeking a mental health care professional, it is important to know the different types of providers. Each level of mental health care professional has different qualifications and areas of specialty:
Psychiatrists
Psychiatrists are medical doctors who specialize in mental health. They are able to diagnose mental health conditions, prescribe medication, and provide therapy. If you think you might need medication as part of your treatment, a psychiatrist could be a good choice.
Psychologists
Psychologists have doctoral degrees in psychology and are trained to provide many types of therapy. They can’t prescribe medication but often work with psychiatrists if medication is needed. You may want to see a psychologist if you want to do more in-depth talk therapy.
Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSW)
LCSWs have a master’s in social work, are trained to do therapy, and provide support. They tend to be holistic and look at your environment and your relationships to find the cause and treatment of mental health. An LPC usually has had a master’s training in counseling and can provide treatments for many of the major types of mental illnesses. They are more issue-focused, specializing in such topics as addiction, family issues, or career development.
Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT)
MFTs are licensed therapists who have expertise in relationship dynamics and can thus provide individual, couple, and family therapy. If your mental health concerns involve relationship dynamics, an MFT may be a good choice.
Identifying Your Specific Needs
Before you start looking for a mental health professional, it is helpful to identify your specific needs and goals. Ask yourself:
- What specific issues am I dealing with?
- Do I want medication, therapy, or a combination of both?
- Am I looking to see someone for a short time or longer?
- Do I have a preference for gender, age, or culture of the mental health professional?
Having these questions answered will allow you to narrow the search and identify a mental health professional that meets your needs.
Finding a Mental Health Professional: Researching Your Options
Once you have a better idea of what you are looking for, then it is time to research potential mental health care professionals. Here are some ways to find options. Ask for Recommendations Don’t be afraid to ask your primary physician, friends, or family for recommendations. Personal referrals can often lead to finding a great mental health care professional.
Use Online Directories
Many professional associations maintain lists of practicing mental health professionals. Websites, such as the Psychology Today Therapy Directory and the American Psychological Association website, have find-a-therapist features allowing one to narrow down results by location, issues treated, and insurance accepted.
Check with Your Insurance Provider
Most health insurance carriers maintain a network of participating mental health providers. Accessing this network through your carrier’s website might prove to be a particularly helpful starting point since the cost could also be manageable.
Consider Online Therapy Platforms
Other online platforms, such as BetterHelp or Talkspace, can provide access to virtual sessions with licensed mental health care professionals. The convenience can be great for those with especially tight schedules or that live too far from a brick-and-mortar mental health treatment center.
Shopping for a Potential Mental Health Professional
Once you have identified a few mental health care professionals, the next thing would be comparing them to find out if they are the right fit for you. Following are a few factors to consider:
Credentials and Experience
Verify the credentials of the mental health professional and check their experience. Check their education, licensure, and specialization. Ensure that they have experience in treating the issues you are experiencing.
Treatment Approach
Different mental health professionals may have different ways of treating people. Some common approaches include cognitive-behavioral therapy, psychodynamic therapy, and mindfulness-based therapies. Look into these approaches and consider what might appeal to you.
Availability and Location
Consider the availability of and location the therapist maintains. Does this professional offer appointment times that work with your schedule? Can you easily go to their office if you needed to, or do you like working online with a practitioner using a format you like?
Cost and Insurance
Mental health care can be expensive, so understand the costs. If you have insurance, check to see if the mental health professional is in-network. If you go out of network or don’t have insurance, ask what their fees are and if they offer a sliding scale based on income.
Making Initial Contact
Now, on to the next step of contacting a potential mental health care professional for initial consultation. Most will give you a short telephone consultation to talk through your needs and their service. This is an excellent time to ask questions and get an idea about working together.
Questions to Ask
Some of the following questions may be of help to you in making this call:
- How much experience have you had dealing with concerns like mine?
- What approach do you utilize in your therapy?
- How often do you usually see your patients?
- Do you have cancellation or emergency policies?
- How will you monitor my progress throughout our therapy?
The First Session
Having chosen whom to see about mental health and having set up your first appointment, you may feel quite ambivalent about this. Remember that a first session will also be a time when you and the mental health professional both check out the fit.
The mental health professional is likely to ask about your reasons for seeking help, your mental health history, and your current symptoms during this session. Be honest and open to get the most out of the session.
Assessing the Fit
After you’ve had your initial visit, give yourself some time to reflect. Did you feel comfortable with this mental health professional? Did you feel like he or she listened to and understood you? Did his or her style appear to be a good fit with you? Trust your instincts. If it feels like it is not quite right, it’s okay to see someone else.
Establishing a Therapeutic Alliance
Once you find a mental health professional with whom you are comfortable, it is important to establish a good therapeutic relationship. It takes time and effort on the parts of both you and your mental health professional. Be patient and open about your needs and concerns.
Tracking Your Progress
As you work with your mental health care professional, it will be useful for you to chart your progress. This might include keeping a record of thoughts and feelings you experience, noting changes that occur in the symptoms you initially reported, or regularly using standardized measures your mental health care professional will provide.
When to Consider a Change
Sometimes, no matter how hard you try, you may find that your mental health care professional is just not a good fit for you. A poor match for you might be:
- You find yourself uncomfortable with your mental health professional.
- You don’t feel like you are improving on your goals.
- You don’t really connect to the kind of approach your mental health professional uses.
- You may notice ethical concerns regarding the behavior of your mental health professional.
If you are facing any of these, then it is quite okay to raise your concerns with your mental health care professional or to get a second opinion.
Taking Charge of Your Mental Health
Finding the right mental health care professional is a personal journey that requires time, effort, and patience. By understanding the different types of mental health care professionals, identifying your needs, researching your options, and evaluating potential providers, you can increase your chances of finding a mental health care professional who can effectively support your mental health journey.
Remember, it’s okay to try different mental health care professionals until you find the right fit. Your mental health is important, and you need to work with someone who will be able to provide the care and support that you need.
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