Working With a Provider
A key part of moving toward wellness is finding mental health providers who you feel comfortable with. Providers can help you to deal with current stresses, heal old traumas, and make decisions about medication. They can also work with you to develop treatment plans that reflect your goals.
In this article
Questions to consider
Calling a potential provider
Preparing for your first appointment
Understanding your role in treatment
If you're not satisfied with your care
Key points
Finding a mental health provider you trust and feel comfortable with is very important for getting the help you need.
Providers can help you handle stress, heal from past trauma, and work toward feeling better. These providers might include doctors, therapists, psychiatrists, and others.
If you’re unhappy with your care, talk to your provider about what’s not working or consider finding someone different to work with.
Choosing a provider
There are many different types of mental health providers and matching your needs with their specialty will help you get the most out of your treatment.
A good first step is to make an appointment with your primary care doctor. Your doctor may begin by making sure your symptoms are caused by a mental health condition and not something else.
If your doctor recommends that you see a mental health professional, here are some suggestions for next steps:
- You can get referrals from your family doctor, clergy, local Mental Health America affiliate or a crisis center. Consider getting a few referrals so you can interview more than one person before choosing.
- Your insurance company can provide a list of providers who are in your plan. Sometimes, your health insurance company will cover only certain types of providers, so check how your plan works.
- Eligible veterans can get care through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. For more information, go to va.gov/health or call 1-877-222-8387.
- You can find a variety of mental health services through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Visit SAMHSA's Treatment Locator or call 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
- Your local health department's mental health division or community mental health center provides free or low-cost services on a sliding scale. These services are state-funded. They support individuals who meet "priority population criteria" as defined by the state Mental Health Department.
- Your company's employee assistance program (EAP) can give you a referral to a provider. Reach out to your Human Resources office to get more information about your company's EAP.
- Medicare offers a list of participating doctors on its website, medicare.gov. (Click on "Find Providers Near Me") Providers who accept Medicaid are listed on the website for your state Medicaid office.
- You can use Psychology Today's Find a Therapist tool to search for mental health professionals in your area.