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Finding the Right Mental Health Provider for You

Finding the right mental health provider if you have Borderline Personality Disorder can be difficult, maybe even overwhelming; however, proper treatment can make the difference in whether you succeed or fail in your recovery. You need to find someone who is familiar with your disorder and your special needs, who can see you on a regular basis, and who is covered by your insurance.

You may not even realize just how many types of mental health providers are in your community and available to you until you start looking for one. You may be wondering which type of professional to see: a family care physician, psychiatrist, psychologist, therapist, or social worker? Does it matter which type of mental health provider you see? How do you know which mental health provider your insurance covers?

Finding the right mental health provider for you will take some legwork on your part. You will have to make several phone calls. It will take a lot of time and energy, and you may get frustrated. Don’t get discouraged. Everybody is different, and finding the right mental health provider for you is a process you must go through, and is just as important as finding the right medication, or combination of medications, that works for you. If the process seems overwhelming for you, or is making your Borderline Personality Disorder symptoms worse, get someone to help you.

Finding the right mental health provider is something you need to do – but once you have the right mental health professional, it will pay off for you in the end, as you will have the help that you need on a long-term basis. You can ask for help from your family doctor; he/she can make some phone calls for you, and give you a short list of psychologists, therapists, psychiatrists, and/or other mental health providers who can help you. He/she can also help with referrals to these providers. You can also enlist help from family and friends.

Following are some ways to find mental health providers:

• Seek a referral from your other health care providers (such as nurse practitioner)
• Ask friends, family or pastor
• Check phone book listings:

Community Service Listings
Social Service Organizations
Counselors
Therapists
Psychologists
Physicians

• Ask your insurance company for a list of providers
• Ask your company's benefits program (Employee Assistance Program) for a referral
• Contact a local or national mental health organization (National Institute of Mental Heath, National Association for Mental Illness, National Institute of Health, American Psychiatric Association, National Mental Health Association, etc.) or Medical Society (Mayo Clinic, etc.)
• Use the Internet to seek referrals or to seek out the above listed organizations
These are some issues you need to consider asking about, whether on the phone or at your first appointment:
• The mental health professional’s training, licensure and number of years in practice.
• Their office hours (and whether they are available by phone between appointments), fees, the length of sessions and which insurance providers (or Medicaid/Medicare) they work with.
• Their personal philosophy and treatment approach, to make sure it suits your style and special needs (ask if they are familiar with Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, a specific type of therapy used to treat patients with Borderline Personality Disorder).
• Their specialization, making sure they are familiar with Borderline Personality Disorder.

Don't hesitate to ask a lot of questions of a potential mental health provider. Finding the right match is crucial to establishing a good relationship and making sure you're getting the best treatment for you.

About the Author

David Oliver is the founder of BorderlineCentral.com a one stop source of information on how to cope and deal with borderline personality disorder.

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