| You have finally decided you want to consult a | | | | training in the psychological sciences; 2 years of upper |
| psychologist, psychiatrist or other mental health | | | | division in college and 3 to 4 years of post-graduate |
| professional, but how do you go about choosing which | | | | school. |
| one will meet your unique needs? There are at least 5 | | | | A psychologist is trained to do counseling, |
| different types of mental health treatment providers | | | | psychotherapy, research and mental X Rays, better |
| from which to choose. | | | | known as psychological testing. They practice |
| Do not just consider the professional degree when | | | | marriage and family counseling and therapy to |
| picking a counselor or therapist. Do you want a male | | | | eliminate anxiety, depression as well as the entire |
| or female? | | | | range of psychological disorders. |
| Do you want one who is an expert in marriage | | | | The advantages of using a psychologist are that he is |
| counseling? Individual counseling? Substance abuse | | | | the most highly trained in psychological practice, is an |
| treatment? Do you want a therapist who prescribes | | | | expert in providing cutting edge treatment for diverse |
| drugs? | | | | problems and uses psychological testing to provide |
| How about one who can X Ray your personality by | | | | revealing information about how your mind works. |
| using tests? One who can administer hypnosis? | | | | Also, in many cases, he or she is a trained mental |
| Electroshock? | | | | health researcher, meaning, in this case, the |
| A good first step would be to consult with a | | | | psychologist is trained not to just practice psychology, |
| healthcare professional who knows the answers to | | | | but also to contribute to it through research. |
| these questions. Call the psychology or psychiatry | | | | Another advantage is that their services are covered |
| department at a university. | | | | by almost all insurance companies who provide mental |
| Talk to a psychology instructor at a local community | | | | health coverage. |
| college or contact the behavioral health unit in your | | | | The clinical social worker and professional counselor |
| local hospital or your community crisis line. | | | | provide counseling to eliminate family problems and |
| It is important to be familiar with the training, skills and | | | | troubles arising from depression, anxiety, agitation and |
| treatment philosophy of the various types of | | | | other emotional disorders. They have from one to two |
| professionals, and then match what you prefer with | | | | years of post-college level training in counseling and |
| what a particular treatment provider has to offer. | | | | mental health. |
| Also, talk to the representative of an organization | | | | The social worker holds a masters degree in social |
| which is concerned with issues like yours i.e. marriage, | | | | work while the professional counselor holds one in |
| anxiety, depression etc. Their opinions are invaluable, as | | | | counseling. They both must do an internship and pass |
| they are in contact with many different patients and | | | | a comprehensive examination to practice |
| treatment providers who are concerned with the very | | | | independently. |
| same issues as you and they have first hand | | | | Psychiatrists have most of their training in medicine, |
| knowledge of the characteristics and qualities of | | | | chemistry and the biological sciences. Their central |
| different types of counselors and therapists. | | | | training in psychiatry and mental health is usually |
| Your 5 main choices of mental health treatment | | | | received in the 3 year residency in psychiatry. |
| providers are: The marriage and family counselor, the | | | | They hold a doctoral degree in medicine or osteopathy |
| psychologist, the psychiatrist, the professional mental | | | | and receive no substantive training in counseling, family |
| health counselor and the clinical social worker. | | | | therapy, marital therapy or psychological testing. |
| The marriage and family counselor has one to two | | | | They are mainly used to prescribe medication and |
| years of graduate training in counseling those with | | | | administer occasional electroshock treatments. Their |
| troubled marriages and family problems. He or she will | | | | services are covered by all health insurance |
| have a masters degree and will likely have done an | | | | companies. |
| internship. | | | | As you can see, there is a wide variety of |
| The advantage of using these professionals is that | | | | professionals available to treat emotional problems. |
| you are working with someone who has intense | | | | The one crucial ingredient, however, is the quality of |
| training in this one area of counseling. The | | | | the rapport you have with your provider. |
| disadvantage is that some insurance companies may | | | | It is important to check educational credentials, |
| not cover their services. | | | | experience and any history of disciplinary action by |
| The psychologist holds a doctoral degree in | | | | your state Board. But even after all these check-out, |
| psychology. Some consider him or her to be the most | | | | be sure you trust and have an excellent rapport with |
| highly trained of mental health professionals. The | | | | your therapist, or you might have to start all over again! |
| psychologist has approximately 6 years of college | | | | |