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If
you or someone you know has a mental illness and you don't know where
to turn, please call us at (614) 221-1441. |
Finding the Right Mental Health Care For You
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. If you live in
Franklin County, Ohio, call the Mental Health Association of Franklin
County at 614/221-1441 or www.mhafc.org. For Mental Health Associations
in other parts of the country, 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 - 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 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 referral to a support group in Franklin County, call 614/221-1441 or click here.
MHAFC needs your financial support to continue to improve awareness and understanding of mental illnesses. Please click here to make a contribution.
This publication is generously supported by an educational grant from the William H. Donner Foundation and Eli Lily and Company. copyright 1997
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."
