Guide to Finding the Right Mental Health Provider

Guide to finding the right mental health provider

Let’s say you or someone you know such as a family member or friend are having severe anxiety symptoms.  You know that you need help and that a mental health provider is where you need to turn to, but you ask yourself where do you start?  Where to start is difficult when doing anything for the first time.  It can be intimidating embarking upon an unfamiliar process.  Finding a mental health provider for many people can fit within that box. Over the years I’ve heard many questions such as

How do I find a provider that is able to address the problem I have?

How do I schedule an appointment?

Do I have to stay with a therapist for a certain length of time? etc

This post is going to be a comprehensive guide to finding the right mental health provider and receiving the best treatment to address your concerns. 

What kind of provider are you looking for?

This question can depend on a couple factors.  Are you looking for medication and or medication management or talk therapy?  The answer to that question is the type of provider that you should begin looking for.  Down below are the types of mental health providers.

People typically use Psychiatrist/Therapist/and Psychologists interchangeably but there are differences in their roles and functions with treatment. 

Psychiatrists are medical doctors.  They would have gone to medical school and gone through residency the same way any other type of MD would.  However of course the distinction being that they focused their concentration on mental health concerns.  These are the providers that mostly deal with prescribing psychiatric medication and medication management.  Psychiatry appointments are usually once per month to check in with you to see how the medication is going.  This is where they see if there are any concerning side effects, if the medication is working and if they need to adjust your dosage or prescribing another medication.  Usually, Psychiatrist don’t do talk therapy.  Now keep in mind I used the word usually because there are some psychiatrists who also do talk therapy but it’s important to check beforehand if that is your expectation.  A typical initial psychiatrist appointment will consist of assessing your symptoms to see if medication is appropriate and if so, which medication would be best.  Psychiatrists typically treat any mental health symptom such as Anxiety, Depression, ADHD, Psychosis, Bipolar symptoms, Schizophrenia etc.  Now if you are looking for a psychiatrist here are some things to keep in mind. 

On average psychiatrist have long wait lists and depending on your area it’s not uncommon to have a wait time of 6-8 weeks before getting in for an intake appointment.  

A tip for getting in with a provider with psychiatric medication is looking at other types of providers who are capable of prescribing medication. Usually, those providers are APN or Nurses with the capability to prescribe psychotropic medication.  They are more abundant and easier to get in for an intake appointment.  They also have the same ability to prescribe anti-depressants or anxiety medication.

Remember if you are prescribed medication that it’s important to take the medication as the doctor instructs you with the appropriate dosage and frequency.  Also, if you have any concern or question reach out to your psychiatrist and don’t feel like you must wait until your next appointment. 

Psychologists are PHD and PSYD.  Those are mental health providers who received their doctorate in a mental health discipline.  These providers do talk therapy and/or mental health testing.  If you’re looking for talk therapy, then psychologists are the appropriate type of provider.  Psychologist also specializes in psychological testing. For example, neurological functioning for Autism, ADHD, personality is just some of the tests a psychologist can implement.  Keep in mind that it can be harder to get an intake appointment with a psychologist due to availability. 

Mental health therapist/Counselor/Clinician are synonyms that describe the same type of provider.  These providers that have a master’s degree in social work or counseling and are typically licensed.  Every state has different licensure names and abbreviations.  But to make it simple, if the provider doesn’t have a PHD or PSYD after their name, they are a mental health therapist.  There are also different specializations a therapist may have based on their training and licensure. Licensed social workers and Licensed counselors are trained in handling generalized mental health concerns through talk therapy.  Marriage and Family therapist specialize in handling family and relationship issues.  That doesn’t mean that marriage and family therapist can’t work on other generalized issues such as stress, anxiety and depression.  It also doesn’t mean that social workers and counselors can’t address family or relationship concerns.  It’s just marriage and family therapist specialize in those concerns.  Also keep in mind that although psychologists have longer formal training due to their education does not mean they are necessarily superior clinicians to providers with master’s degrees.  There is wide variance in skill, experience, and technique.

How do I find the right provider?

When finding the right provider there are few criteria you should keep in mind.  Age, experience, race/ethnicity, gender, specialization, therapeutic style etc.  This can all depend on what your goals are and most importantly what makes you feel comfortable.  Building rapport and trust is a crucial foundation in your treatment and should be an important priority when narrowing down your search.  Keep in mind that there is no one therapeutic style.  There are some therapists who prefer to let the client guide the session.  The therapist will typically let the client talk with minimal interjection and interruption.  Some other therapists are more talkative during session.  So again, this depends on what kind of therapy experience your looking for.  My advice when narrowing down your search call a provider and ask them what they’re approach is in therapy or what a typical session will look like.  That way you can narrow down your search even more to find the right fit.

Many providers have their own website and/or profiles on websites like Psychology today.  That way you can see what the providers expertise or specialization is, as well as experience.

You can also find providers on your insurance website or any other search engines that can help you find providers. 

So, know you’ve found a provider you want to try. Now it’s time to schedule an appointment. When scheduling an appointment keep in mind that a lot of providers don’t have a secretary.  Which means it can take a day or two before the provider reaches back out.  Unfortunately, in certain situations some providers may not reach back out or make it known they are not excepting any new clients.  It’s not uncommon to have to make several calls before finding a provider that is accepting new clients and or is timely with their response.   So, a useful tip would be to have at least 5-7 providers that you would be interested in seeing.  You can also use this time to narrow down your list by asking questions about the provider and gauging the clinician’s personality and session approach.  With technology many providers have the option for virtual therapy.  That can be an option because that increases the number of providers if your having issues finding one in your area. 

I’ve been seeing a clinician but it’s not working out. What do I do now?

As I stated before, rapport is the foundation of treatment and if you feel that things aren’t clicking, there is no shame in finding other providers.  It’s unusual to see several clinician’s before you find the right fit.  Although, I would advise that you give it at least a few sessions before switching to a new provider because sometimes that rapport may not happen right away. 

Generalized advice

Consistency is key.  It’s just like any other treatment or training you do in life.  The more you put in the more you’ll get out of it.  Many times, I see people go to therapy consistently for a few months and start to feel better.  They immediately stop going or start going inconsistently.  Best advice is to continue therapy but to wean yourself off by gradually reducing your monthly sessions.  The reason for this is because you don’t know if the issues or triggers may arise, and you want to be sure your coping skills are strong enough to handle it.  Ideally once per week is a good start when it comes to therapy.  If you feel you need more therapy, then you can reach out to your insurance company or ask your therapist about referring you to a higher level of care.  If you’re paying out of pocket, then you would just need to discuss this with your clinician. 

Keep in mind it is ok to be nervous.  This is natural feeling.  Remember you are the main authority on your life and your treatment.  Always communicate your wants and concerns. Good luck on your journey.