If you are struggling with your mental or emotional health, you are not alone. According to the American Psychiatric Association (APA), about 18% of Americans have a diagnosable mental illness in a given year, and 4% have a serious mental illness.[1]
Whether you are dealing with depression, anxiety, mood swings, dissociation, or another mental health symptom, you should seek professional help. There are a variety of mental health treatment programs out there to choose from. That said, you want to make sure you are picking the right mental health center for your needs.
When choosing a mental health provider in New Jersey, you want to pick one that is experienced or qualified, uses evidence-based treatment methods, and offers the specialized services you need, like medication management or treatment for a co-occurring substance use disorder. You also want to determine what level of care you need, pay attention to the location of the facility, and figure out if they accept your insurance or offer a payment plan.
How to Choose a Mental Health Provider in New Jersey
Mental health treatment offers you the ability to learn why you are experiencing your symptoms, develop healthy coping mechanisms to manage them, and change negative behavioral patterns that contribute to the issues you are facing. Because mental health care can save your life, it’s important to pick the best program you can find.
When choosing mental health services in New Jersey, consider the following:
Experience and Qualifications
Mental health professionals are required to complete certain levels of education to practice. When choosing a mental health center, you want to make sure the therapists or psychologists who work there have at least a Bachelor’s degree in a related field, if not a Master’s or Doctoral degree.
Examples of specific mental health providers who are qualified to manage a wide range of conditions include:
- Therapists
- Psychologists
- Psychiatrists
- Licensed professional counselors
- Clinical social workers
- Licensed marriage and family therapists
- And a wide range of other professionals!
Even further, mental health professionals can specialize in specific conditions. If you or a family member are diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, you want to choose a provider who has experience in treating trauma-related conditions.
Methods of Treatment
Mental health conditions can be difficult to recover from. Thankfully, reputable mental health providers use evidence-based treatment methods to help their clients recover. To explain, an evidence-based treatment is researched and proven effective in managing a specific mental health issue.
For example, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is an evidence-based therapy for conditions like depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and substance use disorders. On the other hand, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) is clinically proven in treating PTSD.
You should choose a mental health professional who always uses the therapies that are clinically proven to manage your specific disorder.
Level of Care
There are a variety of levels of care when it comes to mental health treatment in New Jersey. You can receive either inpatient or outpatient care. Inpatient care requires you to live at the facility while you recover, while outpatient care allows you to live at home and commute to regular treatment sessions.
If you have a severe mental health condition or co-occurring substance abuse issues, you should choose an inpatient program. It is also important to choose inpatient care if you experience symptoms like psychosis, mania, delusions, hallucinations, self-harm, or suicidal thoughts.
On the other hand, people with mild to moderate mental health symptoms who need to continue working while they recover might be better suited to outpatient care like a partial hospitalization program.
Specialized Services
Most mental health providers have specialized services that they offer to their clients. You might need specialized mental health care if you struggle with trauma, need substance use disorder treatment, or have a condition like an eating disorder that requires services from a medical doctor.
Other types of specialized services include:
- Trauma-informed care
- Behavioral health services
- Psychiatric medication management
- Addiction services like medication-assisted treatment
- Assistance in recovering from marital problems or family therapy from a marriage and family therapist
- Specialized focus on certain conditions, like personality disorders or schizophrenia
Insurance and Payment Options
Another thing to consider is whether the mental health treatment program is a covered provider under your health insurance policy. Mental health counseling services can be expensive, especially if you are attending an inpatient program. Thankfully, most mental health professionals accept a wide range of insurance plans to ensure everyone has access to the care they need.
To determine if a program accepts your insurance, you can call your insurance provider or ask an admissions counselor to verify your benefits. Your health insurance company can give you a list of in-network mental health professionals and discuss your benefit limits with you.
If you do not have insurance, there are still ways to make behavioral health treatment affordable. Some mental health treatment programs offer payment plans like sliding scale fees. To explain, sliding scale fees only require you to pay what you can afford based on your income.
Location
When seeking a psychological treatment program, you should look for one that is in an ideal location. For example, if you are attending an outpatient program, you need to pick one that is close enough to your home to make the commute easy on yourself. On the other hand, if you are going to inpatient treatment and want to separate yourself from a negative environment, you might want to travel to another city or state.
Get Connected to Top-Rated Mental Health Treatment in New Jersey
If you or a loved one suffers from psychological symptoms, it’s time to seek professional help. At New Jersey Behavioral Health, we provide emotional support and coping mechanisms to each client, ensuring they make a full recovery. Whether you have an anxiety disorder, depression, or bipolar disorder, we can help you regain control over your life.
Our therapists and social workers strive to create a good relationship with each client, prioritizing comfort and feelings of safety. Additionally, we always use individualized treatment plans, evidence-based practices, and other services, making our mental health treatment and counseling program one of the best in the state.
Contact us today for more information on how our mental wellness center works and to determine if we are the right match for you. If you are seeking treatment, we can help you verify your health insurance coverage today. The initial visit to our center will allow you to figure out if our counseling and social work services suit your needs.
References:
- American Psychiatric Association (APA): Mental Health Disparities: Diverse Populations