If you or someone you know may benefit
from a counselor or mental health center, here are some questions and
guidelines to help you find the right care.
Where Can I Go For Help?
Where you go for help will depend on who has the problem (an adult
or child) and the nature of the problem and/or symptoms. Often, the
best place to start is your local Mental Health Association. Check
your Yellow Pages for a listing or call the National Mental Health
Association at 800/969-NMHA.
Other suggested resources:
- Your local health department's
Mental Health Division. These services are state funded and are
obligated to first serve individuals who meet "priority population
criteria" as defined by the state Mental Health Department. There
may be waiting lists and not all individuals may be eligible for
services. In some jurisdictions local funding is provided for
additional services.
- Other mental health organizations
- Family physician
- Clergyperson
- Family services agencies,
such as Catholic Charities, Family Services, or Jewish Social
Services
- Educational consultants or
school counselors
- Marriage and family counselors
- Child guidance counselors
- Psychiatric hospitals
accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of
- Health Care Organizations
- Hotlines, crisis centers, and
emergency rooms (call 411 for Directory Assistance)
Which Mental Health Professional Is
Right For Me?
There are many types of mental health professionals. Finding the
right one for you may require some research. Often it is a good idea
to first describe the symptoms and/or problems to your family
physician or clergy. He or she can suggest the type of mental health
professional you should call.
Types of Mental Health Professionals
- Psychiatrist - medical doctor
with special training in the diagnosis and treatment of mental and
emotional illnesses. Like other doctors, psychiatrists are qualified
to prescribe medication.
Qualifications: should have a state license and be board
eligible or certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and
Neurology.
- Child/Adolescent Psychiatrist -
medical doctor with special training in the diagnosis and treatment
of emotional and behavioral problems in children. Child/Adolescent
psychiatrists are qualified to prescribe medication.
Qualifications: should have a state license and be board
eligible or certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and
Neurology.
- Psychologist - Counselor with
an advanced degree from an accredited graduate program in
psychology, and 2 or more years of supervised work experience.
Trained to make diagnoses and provide individual and group therapy.
Qualifications: a state license.
- Clinical Social Worker -
Counselor with a masters degree in social work from an accredited
graduate program. Trained to make diagnoses and provide individual
and group counseling.
Qualifications: state license; may be member of the Academy
of Certified Social Workers.
- Licensed Professional Counselor -
Counselor with a masters degree in psychology, counseling or a
related field. Trained to diagnose and provide individual and group
counseling.
Qualifications: state license
- Mental Health Counselor -
Counselor with a masters degree and several years of supervised
clinical work experience. Trained to diagnose and provide individual
and group counseling.
Qualifications: certification by the National Academy of
Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselors.
- Certified Alcohol and Drug Abuse
Counselor - Counselor with specific clinical training in alcohol
and drug abuse. Trained to diagnose and provide individual and group
counseling.
Qualifications: state license
- Nurse Psychotherapist - A
registered nurse who is trained in the practice of psychiatric and
mental health nursing. Trained to diagnose and provide individual
and group counseling.
Qualifications: certification, state license.
- Marital and Family Therapist -
A counselor with a masters degree, with special education and
training in marital and family therapy. Trained to diagnose and
provide individual and group counseling.
Qualifications: state license
- Pastoral Counselor - Clergy
with training in clinical pastoral education Trained to diagnose and
provide individual and group counseling.
Qualifications: Certification from American Association of
Pastoral Counselors.
You Make The Call To The Mental
Health Professional...Now What Do You Do?
Spend a few minutes talking with him or her on the phone, ask
about their approach to working with patients, their philosophy,
whether or not they have a specialty or concentration (some
psychologists for instance specialize in family counseling, or child
counseling, while others specialize in divorce or coping with the loss
of a loved one.) If you feel comfortable talking to the counselor or
doctor, the next step is to make an appointment.
On your first visit, the counselor or
the doctor, will want to get to know you and why you called him or
her. The counselor will want to know-- what you think the problem is,
about your life, what you do, where you live, with whom you live. It
is also common to be asked about your family and friends. This
information helps the professional to assess your situation and
develop a plan for treatment.
If you don't feel comfortable with the
professional after the first, or even several visits, talk about your
feelings at your next meeting; Don't be afraid to contact another
counselor. Feeling comfortable with the professional you choose is
very important to the success of your treatment.
Types Of Treatment
Psychotherapy is a method of
talking face-to-face with a therapist. The following are a few of the
types of available therapy:
- Behavior Therapy - Includes
stress management, biofeedback and relaxation training to change
thinking patterns and behavior.
- Psychoanalysis - Long-term
therapy meant to "uncover" unconscious motivations and early
patterns to resolve issues and to become aware of how those
motivations influence present actions and feelings.
- Cognitive Therapy - Seeks to
identify and correct thinking patterns that can lead to troublesome
feelings and behavior.
- Family Therapy - Includes
discussion and problem-solving sessions with every member of the
family.
- Movement/Art/Music Therapy -
These methods include the use of movement, art or music to express
emotions. Effective for persons who cannot otherwise express
feelings.
- Group Therapy - Includes a
small group of people who, with the guidance of a trained therapist,
discuss individual issues and help each other with problems.
- Drug Therapy - Drugs can be
beneficial to some persons with mental or emotional disorders. The
patient should ask about risk, possible side-effects and interaction
with certain foods, alcohol and other medications. Medication should
be taken in the prescribed dosage and at prescribed intervals and
should be monitored daily.
Electric Convulsive Treatment (ECT)
- Used to treat some cases of major depression, delusions, and
hallucinations, or life-threatening sleep and eating disorders that
can not be effectively treated with drugs and/or psychotherapy.
Discuss with your physician about the risks and side effects of ECT.
How Much Will Therapy Cost?
The cost of treatment depends on many factors including: the type
of treatment, the therapist's training, where treatment takes place
and your insurance coverage. The following is a description of typical
treatment costs:
- Community Mental Health Center -
Fees are determined on a sliding scale based on personal income and
medical expenses. Fees range from $5 to $50 per hour. Families
covered by medical assistance pay no fee.
- Private Clinics - Established
fees range from $50 to $100. Some non-profit agencies have a sliding
scale system which may qualify individuals for a lower rate. Fees
for group therapy may be lower than for individual therapy.
- Private Therapist - Fees
generally range from $60 to $125 per hour. Rates for psychologists
and psychiatrists are higher than rates for social workers,
counselors and psychiatric nurses.
- Hospitalization - Fees for
inpatient care range from $400 to $550 per day and vary depending on
the setting.
- Partial Hospitalization -
Typically, day treatment programs are similar to hospital care. Fees
range from $95 to $175 per day.
Am I Getting The Care I Need?
As you progress through the therapeutic process, you should begin
to feel gradual relief from your distress, to develop self assurance,
and have a greater ability to make decisions and increased comfort in
your relationship with others. Therapy may be painful and
uncomfortable at times but episodes of discomfort occur during the
most successful therapy sessions. Mental health treatment should help
you cope with your feelings more effectively.
If you feel you are not getting
results, it may be because the treatment you are receiving is not the
one best suited to your specific needs. If you feel there are
problems, discuss them with your therapist. A competent therapist will
be eager to discuss your reactions to therapy and respond to your
feeling about the process. If you are still dissatisfied, a
consultation with another therapist may help you and your therapist
evaluate your work together.
What About Self-Help/Support Groups?
Self-help support groups bring together people with common
experiences. Participants share experiences, provide understanding and
support and help each other find new ways to cope with problems.
There are support groups for almost any
concern including alcoholism, overeating, the loss of a child,
co-dependency, grandparenting, various mental illnesses, cancer,
parenting, and many, many others.
Source: National Mental Health
Association
