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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 contact 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" for children
and adults 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 (see bottom of page)
- Family physician
- Clergyperson
- Family services agencies, such as associated Catholic
Charities, Farnily and Children's Services, or Jewish Social
Services
- Educational consultants or school counselors
- Marriage and family counselors
- Child guidance counselors
- Psychiatric hospitals such as Ten Broeck accredited by the
Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Cue 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 known 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.
The Different 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 pasonal income and medical expenses. Fees
are set at time of registration and will remain the same whether
seen by a social worker, psychiatrist, nurse, or psychologist. 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 cue. 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 we 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 we 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 shoe 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, codependency,
grandparenting, various mental illnesses, cancer, parenting, and
many, many others.
For More Information:
- Contact you local Mental Health Association
- National Mental Health Association
1021 Prince Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
Phone 800-969-6642
www.nmha.org
Stigma Watch Line
800-696-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
- Call Ten Broeck Hospital at 502-426-6380 or 1-800-866-8876
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