Navigating mental health services may feel foreign or overwhelming when you first start. There are a variety of services to meet your needs, whether that be help with typical childhood concerns or more intensive crisis support. This guide serves as a general reference to understanding what kind of services you might be looking for and how to find them in your area.
Step One: Figure out the type of provider and setting you need
Outpatient Therapy
- Offered by psychologists, social workers, and other types of licensed counselors.
- Typically occurs weekly, biweekly, or monthly based on symptom severity.
- Can include skill-building to support mild to moderate concerns through individual counseling, caregiver support, or couples/family therapy.
- An outpatient therapy consultation could also be a great resource for determining the types of care recommended for you or your family.
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Assessment Services
- Neuropsychological or psychological testing services can be helpful in diagnosing things such as cognitive issues, developmental concerns, academic difficulties, mood disorders, or behavioral issues.
- This service is typically offered by psychologists for more in-depth evaluation, although some trained mental health counselors may also be able to provide psychological testing if appropriate.
Medication Services
- Psychiatrists and nurse practitioners specializing in mental health may be beneficial if medication is recommended.
- Pediatricians and primary care doctors may also prescribe medication for mental health purposes.
Wraparound Services and Intensive Programs
- Community Mental Health Centers often provide intensive support through crisis intervention or wraparound services, which can be beneficial to clients needing more support than a weekly therapy appointment.
- Intensive Outpatient Programs/Partial Hospitalization Programs may be a good choice for those really struggling with the demands of daily life but not yet to the point of needing a full hospitalization.
- Full hospitalization may be necessary to stabilize the situation and provide immediate intervention in high-risk scenarios. Evaluation at your local emergency room for any immediate safety risks is advised. A full hospital admission can help get things to a safe and stabilized point before starting other services.
Step Two: Find someone offering the identified service
Ask around
- Talk to friends and family about your concerns and see if they know of any local providers/organizations they would recommend. Talking to your close family/friends is also encouraged if you are open to it as your natural support system may be helpful to improving symptoms.
Search online
- Using websites such as Psychology Today can help narrow down local resources and providers accepting new clients.
- Online companies such as BetterHelp.com may be able to link you with a therapist offering online sessions.
Talk to your current provider(s)
- Ask your pediatrician or primary care doctor if they can refer you to someone. Talk with them about your current concerns on a regular basis (even after finding a mental health provider) so that all providers working with you are well informed and able to support you as a team.
Call your insurance company
- Using the number on the back of your insurance card, call your insurance company and ask for local referrals covered by your insurance plan.
- Try searching on your insurance company’s website for a provider near you.
Consider self-pay options
- Some mental health providers may not offer options covered in-network through your insurance company. Using self-pay mental health services may increase flexibility in the types of services offered as well as increase privacy in treatment as insurance companies can mandate the services allowed, require documented diagnoses from the start of treatment, and can request parts of your treatment records from your provider at any time.
- Services provided by licensed self-pay providers may be reimbursed through your out-of-network insurance coverage. Talk with your insurance provider about what your out-of-network benefits are.
- Many FSA and HSA accounts can be used to pay for mental health services offered by self-pay providers. Call your account provider to see if this is an option.
Step Three: Call the provider(s) identified and schedule a few appointments
Some things to ask when calling for services are:
- Ask if they are accepting new clients for the type of service you want (i.e. therapy, testing, medication).
- Ask if they are self-pay or if they accept your insurance. Learn about how to use out-of-network coverage and look into apps such as Reimbursify to help with submitting claims yourself should you find a self-pay provider but you still want to use your insurance.
- Ask how far out they are booking and what times of day they offer to see if it will fit your schedule. Be as flexible as possible with the days/times you can attend appointments as many mental health providers have limited availability. You will likely get a faster appointment if you are more flexible.
- Be prepared to share your/your child’s name, date of birth, concerns warranting the call, and other general information for them to move forward with scheduling the first appointment. Understand that the initial call may be more general in nature as formal consent for treatment and a scheduled appointment with a mental health provider is necessary to formally starting treatment.
- Attend a few sessions before making a decision as to if it is the right fit for you/your family. Give your provider feedback as to what you are liking or disliking about treatment as it progresses so that you can work together as a team to make it feel as supportive as possible.
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Tips for online appointments due to possible COVID-19 limitations with in-person care:
- Make sure your phone/internet connection is strong before starting a session so that video sessions are not interrupted.
- Find a quiet and private place for your appointment so that you can be as open as possible.
- Consider having comfort items on hand to make the session feel more comfortable even though it’s online. Some ideas include:
- Bring a warm tea/coffee/hot chocolate
- Stand up and stretch during parts of the session if needed
- Use sensory soothing items like a soft blanket, air freshener, or soft background music
- Consider a passive activity like coloring while talking
- Consider the following tips for online sessions involving kids:
- Structure activities before and after sessions in a way that will set kids up for success. Get energy out before and after sitting at the computer for a session. Have a motivating activity after the session as needed to keep engagement up. Make sure kids have had time for a snack to refuel before the session if needed as therapy can be challenging at times.
- Have quiet activities on hand that kids can use during the online session. Coloring, basic art projects, fidget toys, building blocks, etc. are good options to allow kids to play while still engaging in the session.
- Be available as needed so the provider can use your support. Giving the provider information on how your child has been feeling leading up to the session may help kickstart the session as it may be more difficult for the provider to read emotional cues through the computer at times.
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Dr. Rebecca Plue is a clinical psychologist in the Concord area accepting clients at her new practice. Growing Minds Psychological Services, PLLC was developed to offer kids and families an interactive experience where mental health services can be engaging and fun, both in-office and outside. Dr. Plue is offering in-person sessions as appropriate during the COVID-19 pandemic. Her practice offers the opportunity to be outside during session doing activities such as gardening, taking nature walks, making outdoor crafts, and seeing farm animals. Visit her website at www.gmpsych.com for more information about the self-pay services offered.
