Need More Info?
|
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 - Psychologist with a doctoral degree in psychology
from an accredited/designated doctoral program in psychology and two
years of supervised professional experience, including a year long
internship from an approved internship. Trained to make diagnoses and
provide individual and group therapy.
Qualifications: and for some psychologists, credentialing
as a health service provider in psychology.
- 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.
For More Information:
Contact your local Mental Health
Association, community mental health center, or
National Mental Health Association
2000 N. Beauregard Street, 6th Floor
Alexandria, VA 22311
Phone 703/684-7722
Fax 703/684-5968
Mental Health Resource Center 800/969-NMHA
TTY Line 800/433-5959
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Public Inquiries and Information
Resources 5600 Fishers Lane, Rm 7C-02 Rockville, MD 20857 Phone 301-443-4513
Thank you to Mental Health Association of Maryland and The Mental Health
Association in Beaumont and Jefferson County for allowing us to use as
sources "5 Easy Steps to Finding Help" and "Guidelines for Seeking Mental
Health Services." |
