How to find the right mental health professional for you

ORLANDO, Florida. – You are finally ready to take the next step in your mental health and find yourself a health care provider. Maybe you need therapy, maybe you need medication. You’ve heard of licensed mental health consultants, therapists, psychologists, psychiatrists – so what’s right for you?

First, it’s probably a good idea to understand the differences between the types of providers available. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, there are several different options.

Psychologist: The psychologist holds a PhD and is trained to evaluate mental health through clinical interviews, psychological assessments, and various diagnostic tests. Although they can make a diagnosis, they do not prescribe medication. They usually receive training in one or more specific therapies.

Psychiatrists: Psychiatrists are licensed physicians. They can diagnose, treat, prescribe and monitor medications. Some offer therapy while others may only administer medications.

Consultants, Clinicians, TherapistsA: These types of providers have a master’s degree. They can assess someone’s mental health and use therapeutic methods.

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Clinical Social Workers: The difference between a clinical social worker and a counselor is that in addition to assessing and being able to offer therapy, they are also trained in case management and advocacy services.

Primary care physicians: While primary care physicians may prescribe medications for mental health diagnoses, this is not their specialty and they may not be fully aware of all available prescribing options. Often, your PCP can refer you to another health care provider that you can work with to help you get what you need.

To select the provider you would like to see, there are a few things you can consider.

• Consider what you think you need from a provider. If you are looking for both therapy and medication, you may need a combination of providers to treat.

• If you have health insurance, you should check with your insurance company for a list of providers it covers and determine if you have a copay or other out-of-pocket costs. You may need a referral to a mental health provider, which you may need to get from your PCP. It is important to note that not all psychologists or counselors accept insurance, although in some cases you may be able to transfer receipts to your insurance company to receive compensation. You will want to ask about it.

• If you have family or friends who have a provider they like, you can ask for referrals. Therapy works best if you can connect with and trust your doctor, so getting referrals if possible can be a good start.

• Some psychologists and counselors specialize in certain areas of mental health, so if you are looking for someone for your child or to treat a particular condition, you may want to choose someone who specializes in that. Also, therapists use different methods, so if you’re looking for a specific method, double check to see if the doctor you’re interested in uses that method. We will talk about them below.

• Be aware that providers are in short supply so you need to call to make an appointment as soon as you can. Appointments can take months, so our advice is if you have other providers on your list, make sure you have one, but then keep calling and asking when you can get in soon. Also ask about waiting lists; many providers will email or call waiting list customers if they have cancellations.

• Once you’re able to talk to a supplier, be sure to consider whether you’re comfortable with that person. Sometimes the questions asked may make you feel uncomfortable as they assess and work on your injury, but you should feel like you are in a safe space in which to share. Be sure to ask how often you will need to meet, how difficult it will be to make an appointment, and if you think you will have financial difficulty paying for your treatment, ask if there are any discounts or sliding scale arrangements you can make. .

According to NAMI, when it comes to therapeutic methods, there are a few common types that you may encounter.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): This particular type of therapy focuses on the relationship between a person’s thoughts, feelings, and behavior. The idea is to identify unhealthy thoughts and how they can cause self-destructive behavior so that the therapist can help the patient work towards establishing more positive and constructive ways of thinking to improve the behavior.

Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT): This type of therapy is usually used for people with borderline personality disorder, although it can also be used for people with other mental illnesses. It is similar to CBT, although one important difference is that it emphasizes accepting or acknowledging difficult thoughts, feelings, and behaviors rather than fighting them. The idea is that once they are accepted, they will be easier to change.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy: This type of therapy is commonly used to treat post-traumatic stress disorder. Using a sequence of rapid eye movements, the patient recalls the traumatic event. The idea is that the negative emotional reactions associated with the traumatic event are then replaced by more positive emotional reactions.

Exposure Therapy: It is a type of cognitive behavioral therapy most commonly used to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and phobias. The therapist explores the patient’s anxiety triggers and works to help him learn techniques to avoid rituals or anxiety when he is exposed to them. The patient is then exposed to these triggers in a controlled environment, either all at once, or flooding, or in increasing amounts, known as desensitization, so that they can practice the techniques.

Interpersonal Therapy: It focuses more on the patient’s relationship with others and recognizing negative patterns to help them learn to interact positively with others.

Therapy can be expensive, but here’s a list of cheaper options on the News 6 website.

If you need immediate help or are in a crisis, call the National Mental Health Helpline on 988.

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