Finding a Mental Health Provider...Where to Start

Proverbs 15:22 says, “Without consultation, plans are frustrated, but with many counselors they succeed.”

It has always been important to care for our mental health. But, the impact of the pandemic has brought this issue to the forefront for many of us. Sometimes we just need more help. Perhaps you are at a point where you recognize this and would like to explore how you can support your mental health in a more formal way? Taking the step to reach out is extremely brave, but it can also be incredibly overwhelming, and even scary. This post includes some information that will hopefully guide you as you consider your next steps. 

The mental health world can be very confusing! Knowing some common terms and how to navigate things will help you feel more at ease and empowered as you consider options.

There are several different types of providers: 

• Psychiatrists are medical doctors who specialize in treating mental health concerns. Psychiatrists can prescribe medication. Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners can also do this, as can family doctors (primary care physicians).  However, many family doctors will only prescribe certain types of medication that are more commonly used.  Most will want to refer you to a psychiatrist if things are more complicated or if it is not clear what type of medication would be most helpful to you.
  
• Psychologists also diagnose and treat mental health issues, but they do not prescribe medicine. Psychologists are trained in administering a wide range of tests to help clarify diagnoses or determine the best type of treatment. Psychologists also do therapy, most often talk therapy. 
  
• Therapists, or counselors--I tend to use the terms interchangeably--require masters degrees and special licensing to practice in the mental health field. Therapists provide diagnosis and treatment. Therapists can have several different degrees and credentials. Some of the most common are LCSWs (Licensed Clinical Social Workers), LMHCs (Licensed Mental Health Counselors), and LMFTs (Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists).  While some therapists treat a wide range of issues, most have some area(s) of specialization such as working with kids, couples, trauma, anxiety, behavioral problems, grief, substance abuse, etc. 
  

You may be asking, “So how do I know what kind of provider I need?” There isn’t any one “right” answer. The best thing to do is to start with the issue you want to address and go from there. There are several ways to research providers that can help. One of the best is word of mouth. Ask around and see who is recommended! You can also consult your primary care provider, school counselor, or pastor. There are several different websites that you can search by clinical issue. Two of these are www.psychologytoday.com and www.goodtherapy.org. Different considerations such as age and experience level of the provider, gender, location, insurance networks, and therapeutic approach are important. 

Look at profiles, check websites, and narrow it down to a few choices that appeal to you. Most providers offer a brief consultation at no cost so you can try to determine if they would be a good fit for what you are seeking. Ask questions that matter to you during this time. If you are seeking a provider who offers Christian counseling, or who can integrate your faith into the work that you are doing, this is a great time to explore what this would look like. 

At its heart, counseling is about creating a safe, trusted relationship between you (or your child) and your counselor, so the single biggest predictor of whether a therapeutic experience is going to be successful or not is the quality of the relationship between therapist and client. At the end of the day, finding the right provider for your needs may take more than one try.  While this can be frustrating, don’t give up on the process!  Your health and well being are too important.