Mental health professionals include a wide variety of experts – such as psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, nurses, counselors and others – who help diagnose and treat patients with mental health disorders.

All mental health professionals receive extensive training and education in their field. These experts may specialize in treating specific disorders or specific demographic groups. Some also help people find services in the community, such as financial aid, jobs or housing. Mental health professionals may employ different methods of therapy, such as medication treatment, group therapy or cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), depending on the patients they treat. Mental health professionals are bound by an ethical vow to keep a patient’s information confidential.

Choosing the proper mental health professional is crucial if treatment is to be effective. Patients are urged to seek advice from friends, family and others about reputable mental health providers in the community. Factors that may influence a choice of mental health professional include the nature and severity of a patient’s symptoms, the patient’s health insurance coverage limitations, the potential need for medication and the provider’s experience and expertise levels.

Once a provider has been chosen, an initial appointment will be scheduled. Patients who do not feel comfortable talking with their provider should always feel free to choose another provider. A patient’s comfort level with a mental health professional is an important factor in whether or not treatment will be successful.