Mental Health Care
Find a mental health care provider
Individuals seeking mental health care treatment have many options at their disposal. Mental health counselors and therapists specialize in mental wellness and the treatment of mental disorders. Depending on the individual's needs, niches of mental health counselors and therapists are available to lend targeted expertise: school counselors work with school-aged children, geriatric social workers assist the elderly, and psychotherapists counsel adults aged 18 to 65.
Types of Providers
One can consult a licensed mental health counselor or a licensed mental health therapist for individual therapy on a scheduled basis. Both have acquired master's degrees in psychology and have been licensed by their respective states.
Psychologists are therapists who have attained PhDs in psychology. They see individual patients. They also advise schools, court systems and other agencies who seek their in-depth knowledge of psychology.
Psychologists cannot prescribe medication, however. That prerogative is limited to psychiatrists. Psychiatrists usually see patients in tandem with a therapist or psychologist, both working together to diagnose and treat the same patient. For example, a patient suffering from depression might be prescribed antidepressants by a psychiatrist, while concurrently working with a psychologist to discuss circumstances that may have contributed to the depression and also to learn coping strategies to enable the patient to continue to function in society.
Some unlicensed counselors with bachelor's degrees in psychology work under licensed professionals as assistants. These assistants do not conduct one-on-one counseling in most states, but they may administer group therapy in inpatient units. Assistants might be nurse practitioners. Case managers also need only a bachelor's degree in psychology; they oversee an individual's appointments, housing and other aspects of daily living.
Affordable Care
Psychological and psychiatric services are often costly. One should make sure that in one's insurance care plan mental health is among the benefits that are covered.
Less costly means to finding a mental health care provider is available through many universities' community clinics. Many county human services departments also offer low-cost mental health counseling to uninsured residents.
Uninsured individuals who meet certain income requirements can access mental health care through Medicaid or Medicare: 31 states operate managed care programs for Medicaid patients; five of those states' programs enroll individuals exclusively for mental health managed care.
Peer support is found in mental health support groups, online or in person. The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance both offer in-person peer support groups, where individuals can gather to share their experiences.
Individuals who do not know what programs or services might be most suitable for their situations can call NAMI's direct hotline, 800-950-NAMI. Trained volunteers will be on the line to provide information, referrals and support.