Mental health issues are prevalent today. Due to stress, relationship issues, physical health problems, social isolation, work issues, etc. people suffer a lot. Worse is, some are good at concealing the declining their mental state that help comes late. In fact, there are thousands of people who reject help and try to deal with the problems by themselves, which leads to grave problems.
Whether you’re diagnosed or suspected to have an anxiety and depression, it’s of utmost importance that you find the right mental health provider who will not mock about your situation and will always be present to assist you from time to time.
Below you’ll find some common kinds of mental health providers. Some specialize in certain areas and might even work in various settings. What’s important is that, at the end of the day, you’ll be able to figure out the professional to pay a visit to.
Psychologist
A psychologist typically studies a person’s abnormal mental state thru observation, records, and interpretation of how the individual relates to his or her environment and to other people. Most psychologists undergo special training that allows them to:
- Diagnose various mental health disorders, providing one-on-one or group counseling
- Wok with other providers who are allowed to prescribe medications, if necessary
Even so, a psychologist (unless license) can’t prescribe medications. Psychologists can manage different therapy styles that would help them understand more about their patients.
Psychiatrist
A psychiatrist is defined as a physician, who is an expert in psychiatry (a branch of medical science devoted to the prevention, treatment, and diagnosis of mental disorders). This expert can specialize in different areas such as follows:
- Prescribe the necessary medication
- Provide psychotherapy
- Diagnose and treat different mental disorders
Licensed professional counselor
For a counselor, he or she is tasked to give guidance on a person’s psychological or personal issues. Training is required in order to become a licensed professional counselor. Like with the aforementioned mental health providers, LPCs can do a number of activities which may include, but not limited, to the following: provide counseling for different concerns, psychoeducational techniques, consultation and research into more effective therapeutic treatments.
What factors to consider and what to look for in a provider?
Consider these when selecting among the different types of mental health experts:
- Your condition. Remember that not every professional is suited to your needs, but one with a specialized focus could help.
- Health insurance coverage. It’s important to know that your insurance policy would be able to cover the expenses. Check in advance with an insurance representative to determine what kinds of services are covered and what are limited.
If you are prepared to search for a provider, note these:
Aside from asking your insurance company, seek referrals from family and friends. If you aren’t sure, take advantage of the Internet to search for professional associations which can provide a complete directory of the top performers under the categories of counselors, psychologists, etc.
