CHOOSING THE RIGHT MENTAL HEALTH THERAPIST

Why is this choice so important?

Can a therapist share what I have said during therapy?

What are the steps for choosing a therapist?

What is the difference between psychiatrists and clinical social workers?

For more information:

Why is this choice so important?

Therapy is a collaborative process, so finding the right match-someone with whom you have a sense of rapport-is critical. After you find someone, keep in mind that therapy is work and sometimes can be painful. However, it also can be rewarding and life changing.

Can a therapist share what I have said during therapy?

You can rest assured that all mental health professionals are ethically bound to keep what you say during therapy confidential. However, therapists also are bound by law to report information such as threats to blow up a building or to harm another person, for example.

What are the steps for choosing a therapist?

See your primary care physician to rule out a medical cause of your problems. If your thyroid is "sluggish," for example, your symptoms-such as loss of appetite and fatigue-could be mistaken for depression.

After you know your problems are not caused by a medical condition, find out what the mental health coverage is under your insurance policy or through Medicaid/Medicare.

Get two or three referrals before making an appointment. Specify age, sex, race, or religious background if those characteristics are important to you.

Call to find out about appointment availability, location, and fees. Ask the receptionist:

Does the mental health professional offer a sliding-scale fee based on income?

Does he or she accept your health insurance or Medicaid/Medicare?

Make sure the therapist has experience helping people whose problems are similar to yours. You may want to ask the receptionist about the therapist's expertise, education, and number of years in practice.

If you are satisfied with the answers, make an appointment.

During your first visit, describe those feelings and problems that led you to seek help. Find out:

What kind of therapy/treatment program he or she recommends;

Whether it has proven effective for dealing with problems such as yours;

What the benefits and side effects are;

How much therapy the mental health professional recommends; and

Whether he or she is willing to coordinate your care with another practitioner if you are personally interested in exploring credible alternative therapies, such as acupuncture.

Be sure the psychotherapist does not take a "cookie cutter" approach to your treatment-what works for one person with major depression does not necessarily work for another. Different psychotherapies and medications are tailored to meet specific needs.

Although the role of a therapist is not to be a friend, rapport is a critical element of successful therapy. After your initial visit, take some time to explore how you felt about the therapist.

If the answers to these questions and others you come up with are "yes," schedule another appointment to begin the process of working together to understand and overcome your problems. If the answers to most of these questions are "no," call another mental health professional from your referral list and schedule another appointment.

What is the difference between psychiatrists and clinical social workers?

Two kinds of therapists warrant special note: psychiatrists and clinical social workers. Psychiatrists are medical doctors and can prescribe medication. Clinical social workers are trained in client-centered advocacy and can assist you with information, referral, and direct help in dealing with local, State, or Federal government agencies. As a result, they often serve as case managers to help people "navigate the system." Clinical social workers and many other mental health professionals cannot write prescriptions. However, nurse practitioners that specialize in psychiatry and mental health can prescribe medication in most states. And, under a new law, psychologists in New Mexico can prescribe medications after receiving training (New Mexico State Legislature, 2002).

For more information:

For information on finding services in your area, write, call, or e-mail SAMHSA's National Mental Health Information Center. The Center can also provide you with a list of community mental health centers and hospitals that provide psychiatric services in your State.

SAMHSA's National Mental Health Information Center
P.O Box 42557
Washington, DC 20015
Telephone: 800-789-2647
Fax: 301-984-8796
(TDD): 866-889-2647
E-mail: info@mentalhealth.org <mailto:info@mentalhealth.org>
http://www.mentalhealth.samhsa.gov </default.asp>

Other Referral Sources
American Association of Marriage and
Family Therapy
112 South Alfred Street
Alexandria, VA 22314-3061
Telephone: 703-838-9808
Fax: 703-838-9805
www.aamft.org </_scripts/redirect.asp?ID=4886>

American Association of Pastoral Counselors
9504-A Lee Highway
Fairfax, VA 22031-2303
Telephone: 703-385-6967
Fax: 703-352-7725
E-mail: info@aapc.org <mailto:info@aapc.org>
www.aapc.org </_scripts/redirect.asp?ID=4887>

American Psychiatric Association
1000 Wilson Blvd., Suite 1825
Arlington, VA 22209-3901
Telephone: 703-907-7300
Toll Free: 888-357-6850
www.psych.org </_scripts/redirect.asp?ID=4888>

American Psychiatric Nurses Association
1555 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 515
Arlington, VA 22209
Telephone: 703-243-2443
Fax: 703-243-3390
www.apna.org </_scripts/redirect.asp?ID=178>

American Psychological Association
750 First Street NE
Washington, DC 20002-4242
Telephone: 800-374-2721
Fax: 202-336-5510
www.helping.apa.org </_scripts/redirect.asp?ID=2287>

National Association of Social Workers
750 First Street NE, Suite 700
Washington, DC 20002-4241
Telephone: 800-638-8799 or 202-408-8600
Fax: 202-336-8310
E-mail: info@naswdc.org <mailto:info@naswdc.org>
www.naswdc.org </_scripts/redirect.asp?ID=639>

National Mental Health Association
2001 N. Beauregard Street, 12th Floor
Alexandria, VA 22311
Telephone: 703-684-7722 or 800-969-NMHA (6642)
Fax: 703-684-5968
www.nmha.org </_scripts/redirect.asp?ID=4833>

Psychology Today
115 E. 23rd St., 9th Floor
New York, NY 10010
Telephone: 212-260-7210
www.psychologytoday.com </_scripts/redirect.asp?ID=5038>

Note: These are suggested resources. This is not meant to be a complete list.

 

All text materials on this web site are in the public domain. CMHS encourages copying or any other utilization of the text. Some of the graphic materials on this site are in the public domain and other graphics may be used with permission, but that permission does not necessarily extend to all. If you have any permission questions, please contact info@mentalhealth.org <mailto:info@mentalhealth.org>.

 

 

 

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