Picking My Personal Therapist:

When you email a provider, here are some helpful details to include:

1. Your name

2. How you plan to pay for care

3. Your phone number

Note: Remember, email is not confidential. Anything that you prefer to keep confidential is best communicated by phone.

Sample email:

Hello, My name is [Name].

I found your profile on MiResource and I am interested in learning more about your practice. I plan to pay with [preferred method of payment (e.g., health insurance plan)]. I’d like to find a time to connect to see if I might be a good fit for your practice. You can reach me at this email or by phone at [phone number] on [day] around [time] or [day] at [time.]

Thank you for your time. I look forward to hearing from you.

Regards,

[Name]

Congratulations! You have started your journey to better mental health!

When you call a provider, you will likely need to leave a voicemail. Here are some helpful details to include:

1. Your name

2. How you plan to pay for care

3. Your phone number (make sure to say it slowly and clearly so they have time to write it down. To be safe, say it twice.)

4. Give them some convenient times to call you back and let them know if you are OK with them leaving you a voicemail. If you are comfortable, you can leave your email address as well.

Sample voicemail:

"Hi my name is [Name]. I found your profile on MiResource and am interested in learning more about your practice.

I plan to pay with [preferred method of payment, (e.g., health insurance plan)].

You can reach me by phone at [phone number] on [day] around [time].

Again, my name is [Name] and you can reach me at [phone number].

Feel free to leave a voicemail if I don't answer.

Also, you can email me at [email]. That email again is [email].

Thank you very much. I look forward to hearing back from you."

You did it! Taking the first step is always the hardest.

During your first therapy session, your provider will typically start out by going over several forms with you. The forms include things like confidentiality, what to do if you need to miss a session, expectations for payment, and your mental health history. Don’t worry, not all visits are like this. They just want to make sure you know how to proceed as a client.

Because the first session involves getting to know you, the provider typically asks a lot of questions, many more than usual. Here are some you might expect:

• What made you seek treatment?

• What symptoms are you experiencing?

• What is your history of mental health concerns?

• What do you hope to get out of therapy?

• What are your strengths and who is in your support system?

Your responses to these questions will help you set realistic goals together, identify how often you might meet, and how long your therapy will last.

We encourage you to be patient. The first few sessions may not feel helpful right away because there are not any quick fixes to the complicated issues we face. The focus is on finding long-term solutions that will serve you the rest of your life, which is worth the wait. If you are feeling frustrated, talk to your provider about it. They understand and have these conversations with clients every day.

Confidentiality between a mental health provider and a client means that whatever you tell your provider stays between you and your provider. Even the fact that you are meeting with a provider is confidential. If you want anyone to be able to communicate with your provider about your treatment or for your provider to share your records, you will need to sign a release of information first. Your provider will have this document and can help you fill it out.

There are very few exceptions for when a provider is legally obligated to break confidentiality. Providers are obligated to share these at the outset of treatment. They vary by state, but most commonly include:

• Imminent danger to self or others: If a provider believes that you are in imminent danger of harming yourself or someone else, they will contact the police or other authorities to ensure that you and others are safe.

• Abuse of a child or vulnerable adult: If a provider believes that a child or an adult who is unable to care for themselves is being abused, they will call your local child and family protective agencies.

• Records are court ordered: If your records are court ordered, your provider will do what they can to continue to protect your confidentiality, and often negotiate with the court to only release certain information. In some cases, they may not have a choice except to release your entire record or to testify. These cases are rare and you will typically know before you seek treatment if a court order may be issued (e.g., child custody case).