Researching how to find mental health counseling can feel intimidating if you’ve never sought out treatment before. Perhaps you’ve been feeling “off” for a while. Or maybe someone you love has convinced you it’s time to seek help.
Regardless of your reason for doing so, recognizing that you need counseling is an important first step in the process of healing. Finding outpatient mental health counseling services is crucial to helping yourself recover.
Why Might I Need Mental Health Counseling?
The state of our mental health plays a huge role in determining our overall happiness.
When things aren’t working as they should, that can throw us off and cause difficult physical and emotional symptoms to erupt. There are many kinds of mental health disorders, and each one expresses itself in different ways. Some people will even turn to addictive substances as a way to counteract the negative side effects they are experiencing.
If you have symptoms that are interfering with your job, sleep, relationships, or other aspects of your everyday life, you should speak to your doctor about whether mental health counseling is the right choice for you. And if you are currently diagnosed with a substance abuse problem, it’s important to find a counselor who will treat both the addiction and the mental illness.
Types of Mental Health Treatments Available
Since every individual is different, no single treatment plan will work for everyone. That’s why you need to be aware of the different kinds of mental health treatments that are available, including:
- Counseling, such as psychotherapy
- Medications, such as mood stabilizers or antidepressants
- Holistic treatments, such as yoga, meditation, and exercise
Every treatment has its benefits to offer, depending on what your specific needs are. If you require medications, these will be prescribed to you by a doctor or licensed therapist after in-depth evaluations. Even though holistic treatments are focused on physical and spiritual health, they can help treat some of the underlying issues that contribute to poor mental health. Finally, some therapies are reserved for those who don’t respond well to other kinds of treatment.
How to Find Mental Health Counseling
Now, it’s time to discuss how to find mental health counseling that’s right for you. If you’re concerned that you may have a mental health disorder, the first step is to reach out to your primary care physician. They will be able to perform a physical exam to rule out whether your symptoms are the result of a mental health disorder or something else. If your doctor suspects a mental health condition, they will likely refer you to a specialized psychiatrist or therapist. While genetics can play a large role in determining the prevalence of mental health disorders, this person can help you uncover whether any other factors in your life may have contributed to it. Certain traumatic experiences can exacerbate or trigger mental health disorders.
When you seek out treatment, there are a few important considerations to keep in mind:
- Does this therapist offer the range of services I need?
- Do I have any co-occurring substance abuse problems?
- Do they offer other services, such as Life Skills programs?
- Do they have the expertise required to treat my disorder?
Try to find a therapist or treatment center, which will have a comprehensive approach toward treating your illness.
Find Mental Health Counseling at Encore Health Group Today
We know this is a confusing time, but you don’t need to figure out how to find mental health counseling all alone. If you want to learn more about whether mental health counseling is a good choice for you or someone you love, contact Encore Health Group. The skilled professionals at Encore Outpatient Services can be there for you every step of the way, from evaluation to treatment. We take the time to learn about your life story so we can develop a treatment plan that makes sense for you.
