If i want to go to therepy, how should i go about it?

Question

i've been trying to deal with alot lately, and i think emotionally i'm going downhill. i started thinking about therepy, but i have no clue where to begin.

does anyone have any tips on how i should go about finding a therepist, and how much that stuff costs?

Answer 1

Okay, the first thing to find out is if you have insurance coverage which will help you pay for therapy. If you do or do not, that will determine who you can go to. Let's assume, for ease of argument, that you do have insurance.

Know exactly what you are covered for. My current plan covers 52 visits a year, so I can go once a week, or I could go twice a week for half the year, or whatever meets my needs. I have had other insurance plans in the past that cover up to 22 visits a year, or even one that did not cover outpatient visits, but fully covered inpatient visits, which are those when you have been hospitalized for mental health issues, such as attempting suicide. Knowing exactly what coverage you have is very important.

Having coverage will also dictate who you can see. If you have coverage, there will be a list somewhere of providers who contract with your insurance company to provide services for those on their plans. You don't have to see one of those providers, but it will cost you a lot more if you choose to go to someone not on the list, and you may end up paying 100% of the costs. You can talk to a representative for your insurance company about this to get it all straight in your head, and when you talk to them, take notes so you have something to refer back to if you cannot remember.

Since your insurance company will give you a list of providers in your area, you can look at that and get some idea of where to start. Most mental health therapists are qualified for everything, but most of them also specialize in certain areas, such as depression issues for adults, abuse issues, Bi-Polar disorder, grief issues, etc. If you cannot find that information on your provider list, find out if your insurance company has a website where providers are allowed to state their specialities. If they don't that's not a problem, as you can call a therapist's office, and the person who answers will be able to tell you if that therapist deals with your special needs or not.

If you think that medication will also be necessary, you may want to limit your list to providers who can prescribe, or those that have a working relationship with someone who can. For example, most psychologists cannot prescribe medication, but most of them will have a relationship either with a psychiatrist or a regular M.D. who will handle doing the medication part of treatment for them. Also, in some states, there are nurse practitioners who specialize in mental health, but not all states allow them to prescribe medication. So just make sure that all your bases are covered in that direction. If you are going to have to see one person for therapy, and another for medication, they both need to be covered by your insurance company for you to get full use of your benefits.

Once you find a therapist who seems like a good match, make an appointment, and go try them on. It sounds crazy, but finding a therapist is a lot like shopping for a pair of shoes. You might like how they look on paper, and even how they look in person, but when you get right down to talking to them, and seeing if they are a good fit, you find out that they are absolutely not the one for you. If that happens, and it happens quite often, you just go back to looking. What I have done in the past is make a list of possibles, and number them, then I start at my first choice, and try them, and if it works, good, and if it doesn't, I move on. Here's where other people who are going through therapy can really help you out--they can tell you what they really think of their therapist, and tell you if you should look more closely at them, or cross them off your list. Sometimes it takes more than one or two visits to find out if a therapist is going to work for you or not. Don't ever be afraid to walk away from a therapist who is not helping you, as it is not a reflection on you; their therapeutic style is just not a good fit for you and your needs.

If you don't have insurance, there are still many places to find therapists. Does your workplace provide a mental health program? Many employers have found that it is to their benefit to provide help of that type for their employees, as a happy employee does better work. Usually, there is a number you call, and you go in for a basic assessment. They then help you find a therapist in your area who can help you and who you can afford. If you don't want to talk to your boss about it, call your personnel or human resources department, and ask for the number.

I am not sure where you live, but where I live in the US, there are many public programs to help people who need therapy. They range from the State Health Department to our County Mental Health Department. Look in the government section of your telephone book, and see if you can find a place that can help guide you. Even if they don't offer the services themselves, they can direct you to places that do offer them.

A third type of place to find referrals is in a religious setting. Most organized faiths offer some sort of mental health services. Usually, you can talk to your pastor, priest, or another religious leader in your congregation to find out about what they offer. It is important to note that not all therapists you find through such a service will offer strictly faith-based therapy. While they are, naturally, geared toward a faith-based approach, they are usually licensed through the state, so they have education which allows them to help all people, not just religious people. You just need to make your needs known when you make your appointment, or when you first see them.

If none of those approaches (workplace, local government, or faith-based referrals) work for you, you can still just look in the phone book. Try mental health first, then move on to smaller specialties, such as phychiatrists, psychologists, licensed social workers, etc.

No matter what, when you settle on someone, but before your first appointment, do as much research about them as possible. It's perfectly acceptable to ask the receptionist what their credentials are, meaning where did they go to school, what are their specialities, and do they hold any special licensing. Then just google them. It's just as important to know about a therapist as it is to know about a cardiologist.

As for costs, I can give you some rough numbers for costs without insurance. These vary widely from area to area, so they are only rough numbers based on the area where I live.

Psychiatrists 1 hour session $150-$300
Psychologist 1 hour session $120-$250
Licensed Clinical Social Worker $120-$250
APRN (Advanced Practice Nurse Practitioner) $120-$250

Those are really rough numbers for full costs. The first appointment is usually a little more intensive, as it involves an assessment of you and your mental state, so it can cost more.

Programs that offer assistance to those who do not have insurance coverage vary, but I know one person who pays $20 per session at a sliding-fee clinic. It all varies depending on who is providing the service, their degree type, your income, etc.

I wish you the best of luck. If you have other question, please feel free to contact me through this site, and I will do what I can to help answer your questions.

Answer 2

I'd suggest you go to some group meetings over whatevers on your mind. They are usually free at a womens shelter in which they bring in a trained counselor to talk to you.
This way you can get an i deal of how a counselor works. And it might just be possible that you'll like her and end up seeing her 1 on 1. Also most shelters pay for you to see her 1 on 1 a few times.
Also keep this in mind the more women who attends etc. the more the state helps them. like givin the shelters money. in short your not only helping yourself but some mother some child weather beaten or whatever have a place to go to and be safe.
If you 2 don't connect and talk she can refer you to someone. Around here the cost is about 90 plus per 50 minutes
GOD BLESS AND GOOD LUCK

please try this first don't sweat the inc. stuff. If your thinking about a counselor then you need to talk.
even i will lend a ear to listen and help if i can. e-mail me anytime

Answer 3

If you have insurance, start by calling the number on the back of your card. Your health care provider will help you navigate their system and you can ask questions about the background of the therapists available in your network (HMO) or other plan.
If you don't have insurance look in the government section of the telephone white pages for the department of mental health. They will also help you choose a qualified therapist and charge you on a sliding scale based on your income.
I applaude you on being intelligent and confident enough to know that it is all right to seek professional help with your issues.
Remember, it may not get any better immediately, but it WILL be all right! Things always have a way of working themselves out, but getting help is good until the changes come! In fact, it may help you facilitate the changes you are looking for in your situation.
God bless!

Answer 4

If you do not have cash or insurance, you can look up your local community mental health center - which will either be free of charge, or on a sliding-scale fee.

If you do have a doctor, you can ask him or her to recommend or refer you to a therapist.

If you have no money and cannot find a free or low-cost place, go to the emergency room - where they are required to evaluate you, and will probably sign you up for medicaid to pay the bill.

If you are in school - a school counselor can guide you in the right direction.

Answer 5

Any Big Cities to Small Rural Towns have Mental Health Clinics,that go by your income,And if you have a Physician they can and will .provide medications usually after you taking a brief questionnaire,And if you know of any family members who may also have depression,anxiety,addictions,sleep disorders,always mention this as it runs in families as much as diabetes or heart disease.Take the step to getting you some help and you will feel better!

Answer 6

Unless you have good mental health insurance or money is no object, you can start by looking in your phone book for your local mental health clinic. You can also call your local hospital. They usually have a list of doctors in your area and can refer you to someone. Ask about costs before you go so that you don't have something else to worry about.

Answer 7

Justs Go. If you want it there is no reason you should feel bad about it. Therapy can be anything from having to do aquatherapy and other kind of therapy. It is to help you with a problem you can't help yourself. You can learn alot about yourself. Use what you learn to help your life not put yourself down, it is not pic on you day.

Answer 8

If you're still in school somewhere, they should have some counselors available who can give you further advice. a mentioned, a lot of jobs these days have some sort of counseling available, who could refer you to further help.

Good luck, and hang in there. A little help and guidance can make a lot of difference.

Answer 9

If you have insurance, it will cover X amount of visits
Sometimes your work has one assigned to the facility and it is included.. you could ask your union rep.
Also, go to the family physician and ask them for a trusted referral.

Answer 10

Go to your Doctor. Tell everything you feel, he would suggest you everything. There is nothing to be afraid.

Answer 11

Ask your Dr. for a referral. If you have ins. it should be covered.