Choosing a mental health provider: A step-by-step guide

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.

Questions to consider

When making a decision about which provider might be right for you, it can be helpful to reflect on your needs and treatment goals. Use these questions to help you choose a provider that will best fit your preferences:

Type of Doctor/Preferences

• Do you have any preference about the gender of your provider?
• Do you have any preferences about the age of your provider?
• Is it important to you that your provider is bilingual?
• Is it important to you that your provider has a specific cultural background?
• Would you like your provider to have a particular specialty or expertise?
• What are the three most important qualities you think would be most helpful to you in a provider (location, ease of appointment, comfort with staff, etc.)?
• What are three qualities you think would be the least helpful?

Appointments

• How difficult is it to schedule an appointment when you need one?
• How difficult is it to contact your provider outside of normal business hours?
• Do you think you need someone who will always be accessible?
• Is it important to you that the provider offers virtual appointments?

Other Staff

• What kind of other staff does your doctor use? (Some examples include: interns, students, physician’s assistants, nurse practitioners, etc.)
• Are you comfortable with treatment from these people? Or are you only interested in seeing your doctor?
• Do you feel comfortable around the other staff, such as receptionists?

Use of Appointment Time

• How long does your doctor sit with you?
• Do you feel rushed in those meetings?
• Does your doctor allow you adequate time to ask questions?

Office/Appointment Environment

• How comfortable are you with the environment?
• Is the decoration distracting?
• Are you comfortable in the office?
• Is it located in an area that makes you feel comfortable?

Calling a potential provider

After finding some providers that match your preferences, you can call or email them to learn more. Here are some questions you could ask:

• What experience do you have treating people with my condition?
• Do you have a particular approach, expertise or training?
• How much will treatment cost me? Am I responsible for a co-payment?
• Do you deal directly with my insurance plan or do I need to?
  • If the provider answers your call, do your best to take notes on your conversation so you can refer to them later. Have your calendar near you so you are ready to schedule a first appointment if you think they could be a good fit.
  • If you have to leave a voicemail, offer good times for the provider to reach you. Let them know whether or not it’s OK to leave a message via voicemail or with the person who answers your phone (if you have a landline).

Preparing for your first appointment

It is natural to feel a bit nervous about your first appointment. But if you are feeling very anxious, you may want to bring a trusted family member or friend along with you. They can take notes for you if you’d like and their presence can provide comfort.

• Don’t hesitate to ask a lot of questions. Usually, the first meeting is a chance for you and a provider to see if you feel comfortable working together. Don’t feel bad about ruling out providers based on the criteria you’ve identified. Your comfort level is most important, and plays a role in how well you establish a relationship with your provider.Some examples of first-appointment questions include:
  • Do you have admitting privileges at a hospital?
  • Are you willing to communicate with my other providers/members of my care team to coordinate care?
  • What can I expect during a typical appointment? How long will appointments last?
  • What happens if I need to cancel or change an appointment? Is there a fee?
• Be prepared to answer questions about yourself, like how often you’ve had symptoms and when they started. The provider might also ask about alcohol and drug use, since that can affect your treatment, but they won’t report any illegal drug use. Make sure to mention all of your symptoms to get the most effective treatment.
• If you don’t feel comfortable after the first, or even several visits, talk about your feelings at your next meeting. Don’t be afraid to contact another provider. Feeling comfortable with the professional you choose is very important to the success of your treatment.

Understanding your role in treatment

Some people find it hard to say what they want and don’t want from their treatment. But speaking up about your needs with your provider will help you reach your goals and have a more positive experience.

There are lots of ways you can team up with your provider:

• Learn about your condition and possible ways to feel well. The more you know, the better you will be able to discuss your care.
• Tell your provider your goals for treatment. Think about questions like: What are your main life goals, and what are your goals for treatment? Are there certain behaviors you want to work on most? Is relief from symptoms extremely important, or are you willing to live with some symptoms to avoid medication side effects?
• Be honest. Your providers can’t really help you if they don’t know the whole picture. Do your best to be honest about what you are experiencing.
• Keep your overall health in mind. Too often, people with mental health conditions develop other health conditions, such as heart disease or diabetes. It’s a good idea to tell your providers that you want to focus on all aspects of your wellness.
• If you get treatment in a community clinic, ask to see the same provider each time since an ongoing relationship can help build recovery.

If you’re not satisfied with your care

Feeling comfortable with your provider is very important to the success of your treatment. Of course, few situations are completely peaceful or perfect. But if you feel you are not getting results or don’t feel comfortable with the provider, it may be because the treatment you are receiving is not the best one for your needs.

You can raise concerns about your care:

• Discuss any problems with your provider. A competent mental health professional will be eager to discuss your reactions to treatment and respond to your feelings about the process.
• If you disagree with your provider about your care, state your concerns calmly. Then try to suggest some possible solutions.
• If you feel your concerns aren’t being dealt with, try to arrange a consultation with another provider to help you decide whether you should switch. You can also try discussing your concerns with a peer counselor, social worker, or members of a support group. They might be able to offer suggestions of other providers to seek out.
• If you are unhappy with the services you are receiving from a community mental health center, you can request a consultation with another provider who works there. If you are still not satisfied, you can ask to speak with the center’s administrator. Sometimes, a clinic’s patient advocate or ombudsman can help.
• If you feel your provider is violating professional standards or ethics, government offices in every state assist in these situations. The Protection and Advocacy (P&A) office investigates complaints about mental health treatment in public and private facilities. Find your P&A office by selecting your state on the drop down menu at http://www.ndrn.org/en/ndrn-member-agencies.html.

To make a formal complaint about a mental health professional in private practice, contact your state licensing board. To find the correct licensing board, you can search “licensing board [type of professional] [state]” or “file a complaint [type of professional] [state]” online.

For example: “licensing board psychologist Massachusetts” or “file a complaint social worker Kansas”

Remember that you have a right to express your goals for treatment, and you have a right to be treated with respect and dignity. For more information on your rights regarding your mental health, contact your state protection and advocacy office.

• Finding therapy
• Finding affirming mental health care
• Getting mental health help
• Finding help
• Choosing the right mental health care for you
• Your mind and your body: Talking to your doctor about mental health
• Will my new therapist understand my needs: For people of color and LGBTQ+ folks
• Should I go to therapy?
• How does therapy work? What to expect
• Types of therapy

---

var gform;gform||(document.addEventListener("gform_main_scripts_loaded",function(){gform.scriptsLoaded=!0}),document.addEventListener("gform/theme/scripts_loaded",function(){gform.themeScriptsLoaded=!0}),window.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded",function(){gform.domLoaded=!0}),gform={domLoaded:!1,scriptsLoaded:!1,themeScriptsLoaded:!1,isFormEditor:()=>"function"==typeof InitializeEditor,callIfLoaded:function(o){return!(!gform.domLoaded||!gform.scriptsLoaded||!gform.themeScriptsLoaded&&!gform.isFormEditor()||(gform.isFormEditor()&&console.warn("The use of gform.initializeOnLoaded() is deprecated in the form editor context and will be removed in Gravity Forms 3.1."),o(),0))},initializeOnLoaded:function(o){gform.callIfLoaded(o)||(document.addEventListener("gform_main_scripts_loaded",()=>{gform.scriptsLoaded=!0,gform.callIfLoaded(o)}),document.addEventListener("gform/theme/scripts_loaded",()=>{gform.themeScriptsLoaded=!0,gform.callIfLoaded(o)}),window.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded",()=>{gform.domLoaded=!0,gform.callIfLoaded(o)}))},hooks:{action:{},filter:{}},addAction:function(o,r,e,t){gform.addHook("action",o,r,e,t)},addFilter:function(o,r,e,t){gform.addHook("filter",o,r,e,t)},doAction:function(o){gform.doHook("action",o,arguments)},applyFilters:function(o){return gform.doHook("filter",o,arguments)},removeAction:function(o,r){gform.removeHook("action",o,r)},removeFilter:function(o,r,e){gform.removeHook("filter",o,r,e)},addHook:function(o,r,e,t,n){null==gform.hooks[o][r]&&(gform.hooks[o][r]=[]);var d=gform.hooks[o][r];null==n&&(n=r+"_"+d.length),gform.hooks[o][r].push({tag:n,callable:e,priority:t=null==t?10:t})},doHook:function(r,o,e){var t;if(e=Array.prototype.slice.call(e,1),null!=gform.hooks[r][o]&&((o=gform.hooks[r][o]).sort(function(o,r){return o.priority-r.priority}),o.forEach(function(o){"function"!=typeof(t=o.callable)&&(t=window[t]),"action"==r?t.apply(null,e):e[0]=t.apply(null,e)})),"filter"==r)return e[0]},removeHook:function(o,r,t,n){var e;null!=gform.hooks[o][r]&&(e=(e=gform.hooks[o][r]).filter(function(o,r,e){return!!(null!=n&&n!=o.tag||null!=t&&t!=o.priority)}),gform.hooks[o][r]=e)}}); /* = 0;if(!is_postback){return;}var form_content = jQuery(this).contents().find('#gform_wrapper_4');var is_confirmation = jQuery(this).contents().find('#gform_confirmation_wrapper_4').length > 0;var is_redirect = contents.indexOf('gformRedirect(){') >= 0;var is_form = form_content.length > 0 && ! is_redirect && ! is_confirmation;var mt = parseInt(jQuery('html').css('margin-top'), 10) + parseInt(jQuery('body').css('margin-top'), 10) + 100;if(is_form){jQuery('#gform_wrapper_4').html(form_content.html());if(form_content.hasClass('gform_validation_error')){jQuery('#gform_wrapper_4').addClass('gform_validation_error');} else {jQuery('#gform_wrapper_4').removeClass('gform_validation_error');}setTimeout( function() { /* delay the scroll by 50 milliseconds to fix a bug in chrome */ }, 50 );if(window['gformInitDatepicker']) {gformInitDatepicker();}if(window['gformInitPriceFields']) {gformInitPriceFields();}var current_page = jQuery('#gform_source_page_number_4').val();gformInitSpinner( 4, 'https://mhanational.org/wp-content/plugins/gravityforms/images/spinner.svg', false );jQuery(document).trigger('gform_page_loaded', [4, current_page]);window['gf_submitting_4'] = false;}else if(!is_redirect){var confirmation_content = jQuery(this).contents().find('.GF_AJAX_POSTBACK').html();if(!confirmation_content){confirmation_content = contents;}jQuery('#gform_wrapper_4').replaceWith(confirmation_content);jQuery(document).trigger('gform_confirmation_loaded', [4]);window['gf_submitting_4'] = false;wp.a11y.speak(jQuery('#gform_confirmation_message_4').text());}else{jQuery('#gform_4').append(contents);if(window['gformRedirect']) {gformRedirect();}}jQuery(document).trigger("gform_pre_post_render", [{ formId: "4", currentPage: "current_page", abort: function() { this.preventDefault(); } }]); if (event && event.defaultPrevented) { return; } const gformWrapperDiv = document.getElementById( "gform_wrapper_4" ); if ( gformWrapperDiv ) { const visibilitySpan = document.createElement( "span" ); visibilitySpan.id = "gform_visibility_test_4"; gformWrapperDiv.insertAdjacentElement( "afterend", visibilitySpan ); } const visibilityTestDiv = document.getElementById( "gform_visibility_test_4" ); let postRenderFired = false; function triggerPostRender() { if ( postRenderFired ) { return; } postRenderFired = true; jQuery( document ).trigger( 'gform_post_render', [4, current_page] ); gform.utils.trigger( { event: 'gform/postRender', native: false, data: { formId: 4, currentPage: current_page } } ); gform.utils.trigger( { event: 'gform/post_render', native: false, data: { formId: 4, currentPage: current_page } } ); if ( visibilityTestDiv ) { visibilityTestDiv.parentNode.removeChild( visibilityTestDiv ); } } function debounce( func, wait, immediate ) { var timeout; return function() { var context = this, args = arguments; var later = function() { timeout = null; if ( !immediate ) func.apply( context, args ); }; var callNow = immediate && !timeout; clearTimeout( timeout ); timeout = setTimeout( later, wait ); if ( callNow ) func.apply( context, args ); }; } const debouncedTriggerPostRender = debounce( function() { triggerPostRender(); }, 200 ); if ( visibilityTestDiv && visibilityTestDiv.offsetParent === null ) { const observer = new MutationObserver( ( mutations ) => { mutations.forEach( ( mutation ) => { if ( mutation.type === 'attributes' && visibilityTestDiv.offsetParent !== null ) { debouncedTriggerPostRender(); observer.disconnect(); } }); }); observer.observe( document.body, { attributes: true, childList: false, subtree: true, attributeFilter: [ 'style', 'class' ], }); } else { triggerPostRender(); } } );} ); /* ]]> */

If you or a friend are struggling with your mental health, take an anonymous, free, and private mental health test. It only takes a few minutes, and after you are finished, you will be given information about the next steps you can take based on the results.

Take a screen