By Amy Kennard
Our mental health is just as important as our physical health. While we want our bodies to be strong, well-nourished, and healthy, we want the same for our emotional and psychological well-being. If our mental health is suffering, it can affect not only how we think, feel, and act, but it can take its toll on our physical health as well.
To a person looking for mental health assistance, the only thing harder than making that first call is figuring out who to call. The information here will explain the different types of mental health professionals and the services they offer in order to give you a better idea on where to start on your journey to a better you.
Before that, however, let’s address the idea of the mental health stigma. For many years, the term “mental illness” has been associated with feelings of personal weakness and shame, leaving many sufferers to avoid seeking professional help. What those individuals need to know is that today approximately one in five adults in the U.S. — or 18.5 percent of the population — experiences a mental health issue. Thanks to a growing number of services and public education, more people than ever before are seeking and obtaining the help they need, which may include one service or a combination of counseling, psychotherapy, medication, behavior modification, and more.
Where to begin
You’ve made the decision to seek help. Great! Now what? Let’s start with defining the different types of mental health professionals available and what they do. This is not an exhaustive list of the types of mental health professionals, and licensing requirements do vary by state.
Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSW)
Licensed clinical social workers have a master’s or doctorate-level degree in social work. They may work in hospitals, clinics, or in private practice. Clinical social workers can diagnose and provide individual and group counseling, case management, and advocacy. They cannot prescribe medication, but may work with another provider for management.
Counselors
Counselors provide therapy to individuals, couples, or families in the areas of general life issues such as anxiety, depression, relationship issues, and other related problems. A counselor may not prescribe medications. Counselors are required to have a master’s or doctoral-level degree in counseling or a related field, and they may have titles such as Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC), or Certified Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor (CADC).
Psychologists
A psychologist holds a doctoral degree (Ph.D., Psy.D., ED.D.) and can diagnose mental health disorders and provide individual or group therapy. Some psychologists specialize in certain types of treatments such as cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), group therapy, or play therapy for children. Though they cannot prescribe medication, they can work with another provider who can, such as a psychiatrist or primary care physician.
Psychiatrists
Psychiatrists are medical doctors (M.D.s) who have chosen psychiatry as their specialty. They can diagnose mental health conditions as well as prescribe and monitor medications, counsel, and provide therapy. Many have special training in certain areas, such as child and adolescent mental health or specific psychiatric disorders.
Tandem therapy
In many cases, a psychiatrist will work with the patient’s primary care physician, counselor, or psychologist in order to provide the best circle of care. Dr. Anjum Bashir is a psychiatrist located in Decatur who finds this approach to be highly successful. “While most of my patients are referred to me by their primary care physician, I work closely with any referring provider to manage their medications and share testing results.”
Some individuals wonder why they can’t just solely go to their primary care physician if they are having mental health issues. They may feel they have a relationship with that doctor and they know that, unlike a counselor or psychologist, he or she can prescribe medication if necessary. Dr. Bashir advises, “Seeing a psychiatrist for psychiatry medications is important. Psychiatrists are able to put together medication and therapeutic treatment plans that most primary care physicians may not be as familiar with or as comfortable managing.”
No matter what avenue you decide to take to begin seeking help for any mental health issue, the good news is that you are taking that first step. Remember, there are resources available to you that are only a phone call away, ready to listen and offer professional, yet personal guidance and care.
For more information on any mental disorder, contact Anjum Bashir, MD at 217-422-0027. He is one of the few physicians in Central Illinois offering TMS Therapy for Depression and Quotient Testing for ADD/ADHD. He sees many patients from the Bloomington area in his Decatur office, located at 1900 E. Lake Shore Dr. TMS therapy is covered by many insurance companies including BCBS.