Choosing a mental health professional can be confusing and challenging. Usually by the time people contact one, they have exhausted all their other avenues of symptom relief and emotional support. Before buying a new product or a new car, many consumers try to read as much as they can before making the purchase. The same is true for mental health services. Here are some guidelines to help you make the best choice.
Trust your gut instincts. If during your interactions with the professional, you are uncomfortable, pay attention to your feelings. Know that you can discuss this fact with the professional if you choose to do so. It is important to find someone you can trust, someone with whom you feel comfortable sharing your challenges. Being non-judgmental is an important trait in a therapist; you must know you will be accepted and respected. It is appropriate to interview the mental health professional before choosing him or her to be your therapist.
Know that you have the right to know any and all diagnoses the mental health professional will potentially be giving you on your insurance forms.
You have the right to refuse to answer any questions.
You have the right to know how long the mental health professional expects the treatment to last.
You have the right to be treated with respect, never belittled or made fun of. The two of you can laugh together about something, but it is inappropriate for you to be laughed at.
You have the right to ask any questions related to your treatment.
Your mental health professional should never touch you in a sexual manner: no fondling, sitting on the therapist's lap, kissing, or sex of any type.
Only seek care from a professional who is licensed. This can be a psychologist (PhD), psychiatrist (MD), licensed professional counselor (LPC), licensed social worker (LCSW), or licensed mental health counselor (LMHC). Licensed professionals are required to take a test and have a specific number of hours of supervision providing therapy before they qualify to sit for their licensing exams.
You have the right to look at your records kept by the mental health professional. It is your right to ask for a copy; however there may be a fee involved for copying the records.
Article comments
1 - Amna Usmani.
Whenever there is any up and down in life and if we can't tackle , it give birth to different thoughts, those thoughts can be optimistic or pessimistic and they may leave some impacts.
Those people who got some one to share there problems or thoughts with any one are some how capable of tackling but those who are habitual of solving there problem on behalf of their own they might face some difficulties when they are unable to tackle and that's the place when they really need some one with whom they can share and come up with good result and then they opt for a mental health professional.
I Agree with Dr.Jullian Mitchell at the time they want to share, first they want to assure that the things they'll say will not be a source of joy for anyone and will be kept private and confidential.
All those things which Dr Jullian mentioned in her article are accurate and it is necessary for health professionals to make their patients feel comfortable and relax because the cure starts from the first visit and that's the place where patient decide to proceed or he may end and stay indulge in the same disease.
2 - Amna Usmani.
Whenever there is any up and down in life and we cant tackle it give birth to different thoughts, those thoughts can be optimistic or pessimistic and they may leave some impacts.
Those people who got some one to share there problems or thoughts with any one are some how capable of tackling but those who are not habbitual of