Finding the Right Care

If you or someone you know may benefit from mental health services, here are some questions and guidelines to help you find the right care.

Where do you go for help? Where you go for help will depend on who has the problem and/or the symptoms. For a listing of some local private providers of mental health services, you can search our database or you may contact one of the following resources to locate services in your community:

Child Guidance Counselors

Clergy Person

Coastal Horizons Crisis Line,
(910) 392-7408

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Family Physician

Mental Health Association in NC, Cape Fear Chapter, (910) 794-1722

NAMI Wilmington, (910) 253-0863

School Counselor

Southeastern Center for Mental Health, 1-866-875-1757 (toll free)

The Oaks Behavioral Health Hospital, (910) 343-7787

Which Mental Health Professional is right for you?

There are many types of mental health professionals. Finding the right one for you may require some research. Often it is a good idea to first describe the symptoms and/or problems to your family or personal physician or clergy. He or she may be able to suggest what type of mental health professional you should call.

Types of Mental Health Professionals:

Psychiatrist - a medical doctor with special training in the diagnosis and treatment of mental and emotional illnesses. Like other doctors, psychiatrists are qualified to prescribe medicine. Qualifications: state license and be board eligible or certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.

Child/Adolescent Psychiatrist - a medical doctor with special training in the diagnosis and treatment of emotional and behavioral problems in children. Child/Adolescent psychiatrists are qualified to prescribe medicine. Qualifications: state license and be board eligible or certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.

Psychologist - a counselor with an advanced degree from an accredited graduate program in psychology, and 2 or more years of supervised work experience. Trained to make diagnosis, provide individual and group therapy, and psychological testing. Qualifications: state license.

Clinical Social Worker - Counselor with a master's degree in social work from an accredited graduate program. Trained to make a diagnosis and provide individual and group counseling. Qualifications: state license, may be a member of the Academy of Certified Social Workers.

Professional Counselor - Counselor with a master's degree in psychology, counseling or related field. Trained to diagnose and provide individual and group counseling. Qualifications: state license

Certified Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor - a counselor with specific clinical training in alcohol and drug abuse. Trained to diagnose and provide individual and group counseling. Qualifications: state license.

Clinical Nurse Specialist - registered, master level nurse who is trained in the practice of psychiatric and mental health nursing. Trained to diagnose and provide individual and group counseling. Qualifications: certification, state license.

Marital and Family Therapist - a counselor with a master's degree with special education and training in marital and family therapy. Trained to diagnose and provide individual and group counseling. Qualifications: state license.

Pastoral Counselor - clergy with training in clinical pastoral education. Trained to diagnose and provide individual and group counseling.

You made the call to a mental health professional, now what do you do?

Ask about his or her style and philosophy in working with clients, and whether or not he or she has a specialty or concentration. Some psychologists, for instance, specialize in family counseling or child counseling, while others specialize in divorce or coping with the loss of a loved one. If you feel comfortable talking to the counselor or doctor, the next step is to make an appointment.

On your first visit, the mental health professional will want to get to know you and hear why you called him or her. The mental health professional will also want to know what you think the problem is, about your life, what you do, where you live and with whom you live. It is also common to be asked about family and friends. This information helps to assess your situation and develop a plan for treatment.

If you don't feel comfortable with the mental health professional after the first or even several visits, talk about your feelings at your next meeting. Don't be afraid to contact someone else. Feeling comfortable with the professional you choose is very important to the success of your treatment.

How much will therapy cost?

The cost of treatment depends on many factors including the types of treatment the therapist's training, where treatment takes place and your insurance coverage. The following is a description of typical treatment costs:

Community Mental Health Center - For people without insurance, fees are determined on a sliding scale based on personal income and medical expenses. Fees are set at the time of registration and will remain the same whether seen by a social worker, psychiatrist, nurse or psychologist. Fees range from $5 to $120 per visit.

Private Clinics - Established fees range from $50 to $100. Some nonprofit agencies have a sliding scale system that may qualify individuals for a lower rate.

Private Therapy - Fees generally range from $60 to $125 per hour. Rates for psychologists and
psychiatrists are higher than rates for social workers, counselors and psychiatric nurses.

Hospitalization - Fees for inpatient care range from $400 to $550 per day and vary depending
on the setting.

Partial Hospitalization - Typically, day treatment programs provide therapy and skills training.
Fees range from $95 to $175 per day.

Am I getting the care I need?

As you move through the therapeutic process, you should begin to feel gradual relief from your distress, feel more self-assured, and have a greater ability to make decisions and increased comfort in your relationships with others. Therapy may be challenging and uncomfortable at times, but episodes of discomfort may be associated with progress. Mental health treatment should help you cope with your feelings more effectively.

Information for this article was taken from the National Mental Health Association brochure
“Finding the Right Care” www.NMHA.org.

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Finding the Right Care