SEARCH FOR LOCAL THERAPISTS / COUNSELORS
OTHER LOCAL REFERRAL OPTIONS TO IDENTIFY AND CONTACT THERAPISTS / COUNSELORS:
- Some employers will provide insurance which may or may not include an Employee Assistance Program (EAP). These EAP’s will be able to provide you a counselor at little or no cost depending on your insurance. Check with your employer or refer to the back of your insurance card for more information on whether you are eligible for an EAP or not.
- Contact your local mental health center. Most communities have a mental health center or have one close to you that it likely has knowledge of your community.
- The Psychology Department of some local colleges and universities may be of assistance – the degree of their familiarity with local resources may vary and/or not be be available at all. Don’t be discouraged.
- Contact a mental health care provider and ask questions about assessment resources that may be available for you or others.
- Many long-serving ministers have needed to help their congregants and others to locate mental health resources. So consider contacting your minister, priest, or rabbi.
- Most local chapters of professional associations have referral services. For example, in the state of Tennessee such professional associations as the Middle Tennessee Counseling Association OR the Middle Tennessee Psychological Association, can provide valuable information. Each state will have similar resources.
- There are also professional groups that operate throughout the nation. An example would be the Greater Kansas City Mental Health Coalition http://itsok.us places an emphasis on helping individuals and families to locate needed resources. We suggest doing an online search for similar groups in your area.
- Except for some of the most thinly populated cities and counties, county governments usually have a department of health that keeps track of resources in the community.
- Because they invest their careers in helping children, school counselors usually have a very good awareness of resources in their community. So, consider having a conversation with your child’s school counselor.
- Alcohol and drug treatment programs, along with psychiatric hospitals, give a lot of attention to planning care when their clients leave treatment programs. This means that they work with mental health providers who live and work in their communities. They can be another valuable resource.