5 Tips On Selecting The Right Mental Health Professional

Mental health professionals are experts who specialize in handling different types of mental health issues. They work in various facilities that help in the recovery of multiple individuals. Those can either be outpatient facilities (private practices, community mental health clinics, and schools) or inpatient facilities (psychiatric and general hospitals).

Most people would agree that mental health care is one of the essential needs of an average person. It’s easy to lose balance in your overall well-being, especially if you experience pressure from your job, family, and friends simultaneously. The good news is that many professionals out there can help you with that matter. By searching ‘mental health clinic near me,’ you’ll notice that such service providers are just within your reach and will be able to attend to your needs as soon as possible.

Now, the question raised by many is: how will they choose the right mental health professional to help them? It’s not easy to just pick just one, and going for a higher number than that can be counterproductive and may cause more problems in the future. You should prefer the ones who are providing measurement based care in mental health.

To help you choose, here are five tips on selecting an excellent mental health professional:

Tip #1: Check For Symptoms

Numerous signs may tell you that you need to see a mental health professional. And though it might not be easy to admit to yourself, problems with mental health are illnesses, so they have to be treated right away. These are some of the most common mental health problems as per Dr. Avery Grauer MD and their symptoms that you have to watch out for:

• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

This has to do with obsessions (recurring unwanted thoughts, sensations, or ideas) that eventually turn into compulsions (which drive one to act on something over and over again). The most common symptoms of OCD are:

• Has difficulty tolerating uncertain events and is always skeptical
• The need to keep things balanced and in order
• Unwelcome thoughts that may include sexual tension, religious convictions, or aggression
• Scared of or aggressive about not being in control, which may lead you to harm other people or yourself
• Has a unique fear of filth or pollution (for example, a germophobe may be considered a person with OCD, but further assessment might be necessary for a correct diagnosis)

• Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)

People with GAD experience exaggerated and excessive worry and anxiety about day-to-day life for no specific reason. They always expect a tragedy to happen and fret over various matters like family, money, work, school, and health. These are the possible symptoms of this condition:

• Muscle ache or tension
• Sweating
• Irritability
• Insomnia
• Fatigue
• Extreme nervousness
• Nausea, diarrhea, or other bowel problems
• Feeling twitchy and trembling frequently

• Panic disorder

This is a type of anxiety disorder that causes panic attacks (some call it the feeling of being scared even if no danger exists). The individual may also feel that they’re losing their grip on reality. Its symptoms are:

• Smothering or choking sensation
• Chest pain
• Chills
• The feeling of incoming death
• Fear of losing control
• Nausea
• Intense feelings of terror
• Feel of incoming death
• Difficulty breathing

• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

This mental health illness affects individuals who’ve witnessed or experienced a traumatic event like serious accidents, terrorist attacks, war or combat, and natural disasters. People who’ve gone through threatening events related to sexual violence, serious injury, or death may also develop PTSD. Mental health professionals provide various interventions and treatments to help individuals manage this mental illness. These are the common symptoms of the condition:

• Alterations in arousal and reactivity:
• Avoidance
• Alterations in cognition and mood
• Intrusion

• Depression

It’s one of the most common medical illnesses that affect an individual’s thoughts, actions, and emotions. It causes loss of interest in previous activities once found enjoyable and feelings of extreme sadness. This severe mental health illness can lead to physical and emotional problems alike and deprive people of their ability to function correctly. The symptoms of depression include:

• Loss of interest or pleasure
• Increased fatigue
• Sleeping too much or trouble sleeping (insomnia)
• Increase in purposeless activity or slow speech or movement
• Change in appetite
• Difficulty concentrating, thinking, and making decisions
• Suicide ideation
• Feelings of worthlessness

Tip #2: Consider Their Expertise

Choosing the right mental health professional involves figuring out what kind of healthcare provider you should work within the first place. There are many types of mental health workers, and they can cater to your needs depending on their type of practice.

• Physician assistant 

They’ve been certified as a physician assistant (PA-C), and they either collaborate with other physicians or are primary care providers who practice medicine. They’re able to focus further on the study of psychiatry, which makes them mental health professionals. Besides diagnosis and treatment of mental health disorders, they can prescribe medication just like a psychiatrist. They’re also capable of providing prognosis and education to patients to help them move forward in life. It is not easy to be accepted into a Physician Assistant school. There are serious and strict requirements and questions they ask pre-PA students before they can even be called for an interview and get the chance to enroll.

• Licensed clinical social worker

These professionals have been trained and focus on social work and have also helped individuals with mental health problems. While most of them cater to various clients, many licensed clinical social workers specialize in handling those with specific problems such as addiction and depression. They’re also able to work in different fields such as human services agencies and field research.

• Licensed professional counselor

The primary role of licensed professional counselors (L.P.C.) is assessing people for specific disorders and providing various courses of treatment after following litigation capacity assessment. They’re also capable of helping individuals of different ages deal with their interpersonal, cognitive-behavioral, and mental health problems. They work with other providers because they’re unable to prescribe medicine.

• Psychiatric-mental health nurse

This is a registered nurse specializing in mental health. They’re trained in the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of various mental illnesses. Mental health nurses’ training, education, and experience vary, but some are advanced enough to prescribe medication. Their work focuses on supporting the physical and psychological well-being of people with behavioral or mental health issues. They also tend to integrate and develop a nursing plan of care and adapt it depending on its effectiveness during the process.

• Psychologist 

This is someone who has studied psychology, a branch of science that tackles the emotions, behaviors, and thoughts of a person. They’re usually equipped with a doctoral degree (Psy.D., Ed.D., or Ph.D.) They specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of various mental health problems through individual or group counseling. They usually work with another mental health professional since they can’t prescribe medication unless they have the required license.

• Psychiatrist 

This mental health professional has graduated as a doctor of osteopathic medicine (D.O.) or a doctor of medicine (M.D.). They’re physicians who are responsible for the treatment of mental health illnesses. Some of them may also specialize in addiction, adolescent, child, or geriatric psychiatry. They’re able to provide psychotherapy, which is commonly known as psychological counseling. They’re also capable of diagnosing and treating mental health illnesses. Furthermore, they’re licensed to prescribe medicine.

These experts are well equipped with the proper knowledge and skills to diagnose and treat your mental health problem. They’ve spent most of their professional lives helping people who may have similar, if not the same, mental health illnesses as you do.

Tip #3: Ask For Recommendations 

Most of the time, the recommendations of people who are close to you can be beneficial. It’s best to get the advice of someone who knows both you and the professional so they’ll be able to ascertain whether the two of you are suitable for one another. Sometimes, tapping into the connections of a friend or relative would be able to help you reach the right professional quickly.

In case the expert already has too many clients or doesn’t turn out to be a good fit, they’ll be able to point you to someone who can help you with your problem. It’s also a good idea to find out if any of your family members are seeing a particular mental health professional since sometimes they aren’t allowed to treat members of the same family at the same time.

Here are other ways to find a good mental health provider:

• Getting a referral from your primary healthcare provider
• Through student health centers or your company’s assistance program that offers mental health services
• Seeking help from national or local mental health organizations (such as the National Alliance on Mental Illness) by contacting them over the phone or on the internet
• Searching online under categories like counselors, social service organizations, psychiatrists, or psychologists
• Through mental health organizations and directories on the internet with information on mental health providers such as the American Psychiatric Association, the American Medical Association, the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, and the American Psychological Association

Tip #4: Consider Their Experience And Your Circumstances

When treating someone with a mental illness, experience matters. A more seasoned counselor or healthcare provider may be able to help you with a highly complicated issue. They may also provide you with better results in the long run.

Most people recommend finding one mental health provider who can cater to all of your needs at once. That way, you don’t have to look for other professionals, which can be time-consuming. Also, take the following aspects into account: 

• Their level of training, qualifications, and background

• Availability
• Health care plan or style
• Cost of care

Most of the time, when a mental health expert provides all of the solutions you require but you’re unable to afford the cost, they’re willing to make an arrangement. Many professionals can adjust to the financial capacity of their clients and provide the same quality of care.

You might also want to consider factors that have to do with you, such as:

• The need for counseling and medication

The only experts who can prescribe medicine are those with the license for it, and they’re usually physicians and nurses. Depending on your requirements, you might have to receive treatment from more than one healthcare professional. For example, counseling and therapy are usually done by psychologists and mental health counselors, while managing your medications may require you to work with a psychiatrist.

• Your illness or concern

It’s advisable to look for a professional who specializes in your specific condition since most of them tend to accommodate patients with various kinds of illnesses. A more focused approach will allow them to make the correct diagnosis and treatment plan based on their experience and expertise.

For example, people with marital problems would do well to ask for help from licensed family and marriage therapists. In contrast, people with depression would benefit from the services of a licensed physician or psychologist. It’s best to look for a more trained and experienced professional in the field, especially if your case involves complex or severe mental illnesses.

• Your insurance

There are insurance policies that cover mental health problems. It’s just a matter of which providers and particularly mental health services are included in the coverage. Group therapies, emergency mental healthcare, and therapy visits are often part of insurance plans. Furthermore, policies may encompass some services like rehabilitation for addiction to various substances.

Tip #5: Test The Waters

Once you’ve chosen someone you think can meet your needs and maybe worth a try, go ahead and schedule a visit. Throughout three to four sessions, you’ll be able to determine whether they’re the ones who’ll be able to help you with your concern. They’ll work to understand the issue better on the first and second visits, but after that, they’ll carry out their plan of care for you.

It’s important to know that it’s understandable if you end up being uncomfortable with them. But should you experience that, you should tell your provider right away that the arrangement isn’t working for you? You should then check with other professionals until you find someone you’re fully compatible with. That way, your journey toward healing will be smooth and stress-free.

The Takeaway

Selecting the right mental health professional mostly depends on your needs. Finding the most suitable therapist will allow you to improve your well-being, which is the goal of medical professionals in the first place. Following the tips above may help you with this matter, but in the end, it’s still a matter of getting comfortable enough to open up and agree to treatment plans. The right expert will make you feel at ease and provide you with the mental health care you deserve.