When selecting a therapist there are several things to
consider. A professional who works well with one individual
may not be a good choice for another person.
There are many different types of professionals qualified to
provide trauma focused therapy, including psychiatrists,
doctoral-level clinicians, masters level clinicians, clinical
social workers, clinical nurse specialists, nurse practitioners,
and marriage and family therapists. Below we describe some of the
most common of these professionals.
Clinical Psychologists
According to the American Psychological Association,
psychologists are professionals who specialize in
psychotherapy and other forms of psychological treatment are
highly trained professionals with expertise in the areas of human
behavior, mental health assessment, diagnosis and treatment, and
behavior change. Psychologists apply
scientifically validated procedures to help people change their
thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Psychotherapy is a
collaborative effort between an individual and a
psychotherapist.
Clinical Psychologists have doctoral degrees (Ph.D., Psy.D.,
Ed.D.) from graduate programs that specialize in the study of
clinical, research, and educational psychology. In addition to
their graduation study, clinical psychologists must have another
1 to 2 years of supervised clinical experience to be eligible for
licensure. Licensure is granted after passing an examination
given by the American Board of Professional Psychology. Although
psychologists are doctors, they cannot prescribe medications.
Clinical Social Workers
According to the National Association of Social Workers
(NASW), the primary purpose of social work is to enhance
human well-being. Social workers help meet the basic human needs
of all people and empower those who are vulnerable, oppressed, or
living in poverty. A historic and defining feature of social work
is the profession's dual focus on the individual in a social
context and the betterment of society. Social workers help people
identify and manage the environmental forces that create,
contribute to, and address problems in living.
Certified social workers have a master's degree or
doctoral degree in social work (MSW, DSW, or Ph.D.). To be
licensed, clinical social workers must pass an exam given by the
Academy of Certified Social Workers (ACSW).
Masters Level Clinicians
Masters Level Clinicians have a master's degree in
counseling or psychology (MA). Graduate training for the
master's level requires at least 2 years of schooling beyond
the 4 year college degree. To be licensed, masters level
clinicians must pass an exam as well as other qualifications that
vary by state.
Psychiatrists
Psychiatrists attend medical school and have a medical
degree (MD). As with other medical specialties, psychiatrists
participate in a 3- to 4-year residency training in
psychiatry after they complete 4 years of medical school. Child
psychiatrists must complete at least 1 year of concentrated
clinical experience with children. Board certified psychiatrists
have also passed a written and oral examination given by
the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. Psychiatrists,
like medical doctors, can prescribe medications. Some also
provide psychotherapy.
Selecting a therapist is a highly personal matter. A
professional who works very well with one individual may not be a
good choice for another person. There are several ways to get
referrals to qualified therapists such as licensed
psychologists.
There are a many things to consider in choosing a
therapist. Some of these issues are practical such as
location, cost, and what insurance the therapist accepts.
Some are more professional such as the therapist's
background and training. Still others are more personal
such the interpersonal style of the therapist. There are
some questions that you can ask before you select a therapist
that may help in finding a good fit. Other issues, such as
a therapist's style you wont know until you begin
therapy.
Some people choose to meet with a few therapists at the
beginning before determining who to work with. Most however
try and get a referral to someone known in their area and then
proceed with that person unless a problem occurs. Either
way, here is a list of questions you may want to ask a potential
therapist.
What is your educational background? Are you
licensed? How many years have you been practicing?
What are your areas of expertise?
What experience do you have working with people with
trauma and or PTSD? Do you have any specialized training in PTSD
treatment?
What kinds of PTSD treatments do you use? Have they
been proven effective for dealing with my kind of problem or
issue?
What are your fees? (Fees are usually based on a 45- minute
to 50-minute session.) Do you have a sliding-scale fee policy?
How much therapy would you recommend?
What types of insurance do you accept? Will you accept
direct billing to or payment from my insurance company? Are you
affiliated with any managed care organizations? Do you accept
Medicare or Medicaid insurance?
How do I find a therapist?
Listed below are some ways to locate a therapist (at the
bottom of the list are resources specific to veterans). When you
call, tell whomever you speak to that you are trying to find a
mental-health provider who specializes in helping people who have
been through traumatic events. Check this website regularly for
updated information on how to get help. We will be listing more
ways to get help as they become available.
There are many ways to find a therapist. A good place to
start is to ask friends and family members if they know anyone
who they would recommend. However, even if they know
someone they liked, this therapist might not have expertise in
trauma treatment.
Another way to locate a therapist is to make some phone
calls.
Contact your local mental-health agency or family
physician.
Call your local state psychological association
Consult a local university or college department of
psychology
Call the National Center for Victims of Crime's toll-free
information and referral service at 1-800-FYI-CALL. This is a
comprehensive database of thousands of community service
agencies throughout the country that directly support victims
of crime.
If you work for a large company or organization, call the
human resources or personnel office to find out if they provide
mental-health services or make referrals.
If you are a member of a Health Maintenance Organization
(HMO), call to find out if mental-health services are
available.
Some local mental-health services are listed in the phone book
in the blue Government pages. In the "County Government Offices"
section for the county where you live, look for a "Health
Services (Dept. of)" or "Department of Health Services"
section. In that section, look for listings under "Mental
Health." In the yellow pages, services and mental-health
professionals are listed under "counseling," "psychologists,"
"social workers," "psychotherapists," "social and human
services," or "mental health." Health insurance may pay for
mental-health services and some are available at low cost
according to your ability to pay.
There is also a lot of information that can be found on-line
(on the computer). In many cases you can access a list of
services or therapists in your area. In some cases areas of
expertise are provided. Listed below are links and
descriptions of some of these sites.
Provides you with comprehensive information about mental
health services and resources and is useful for professionals,
consumers and their families, and the public. This site also
provides a Frequently Asked Questions about mental health.
The Association for Advancement of Behavioral and Cognitive
Therapies (ABCT, formerly AABT) is a professional organization
that maintains a
database of CBT therapists.
Sidran offers a
referral list of professional therapists, as well as a fact sheet
on how to choose a therapist for PTSD and dissociative
disorders.
VA medical centers and Vet Centers provide veterans with
mental-health services that health insurance will cover or that
costs little or nothing, according to a veteran's ability to pay.
Following deployment to a combat zone after discharge, if you
have enrolled for VA services, you are qualified for two years of
care for conditions potentially related to your service.
VA medical centers and Vet Centers are listed in the phone
book in the blue Government pages. Under "United States
Government Offices," look in the section for "Veterans Affairs,
Dept of." In that section look for VA Medical Centers and Clinics
listed under "Medical Care" and for "Vet Centers - Counseling and
Guidance," and call the one nearest to where you live. Or, you
can call:
The VA Health Benefits Service Center toll free at
1-877-222-VETS
The Vet Centers' national number 1-800-905-4675
For online help go to
www.va.gov and look for the VHA
Facilities Locator link under "Health Care." The VA also offers
the MyHealtheVet and Seamless Transition websites. For extensive
resources see our Online Resources section for Veterans.
The National Center for PTSD does not provide PTSD support
groups, although many local VA medical centers may have various
types of groups. Listed below is information on how to find
support groups online or in your area.
The
National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI) has a website with information on advocacy for
those with mental illness, including affiliates who provide
family support groups in different states.
About.com's
trauma resource page offers a comprehensive listing of
information, resources, links, and support groups (see Forums) on
a wide array of topics related to trauma, particularly incest and
child abuse.
