Substance Use

Understanding the Different Types of Mental Health Services

Mental health care is just as important, if not more so, than your physical health care. You wouldn’t hesitate to see a healthcare professional if you broke a leg, so why hesitate if you are feeling depressed or anxious? You are not alone in dealing with a mental health issue. According to the National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI), one in five U.S. adults experience mental illness each year, but less than half receive treatment.

Treatment for mental health conditions is challenging and can take time, but if untreated, your mental health can continue to decline and affect your quality of life. Let’s talk about the different types of services out there that could help you.

Types of Mental Health Services Available Today

Mental health professionals specializing in behavioral health and psychiatry have the training and experience to safely and effectively help you understand your mental health problems and provide the treatment you need to manage the symptoms. Care usually involves multi-disciplinary treatment teams, including clinical social workers, counselors, family therapists, medical doctors, nurse practitioners, psychologists, psychiatrists, and even primary care doctors.

Care and treatment for mental health conditions are multifaceted. Mental health issues are unique to each individual, and so is the treatment. Undergoing a thorough assessment from a mental health provider is a critical first step for identifying the types of treatment and level of care that will benefit you.

Mental health treatment services include the following:

Individual Therapy

One-on-one therapy between a therapist and a patient is the most common type of therapy. Also known as psychotherapy, talk therapy, and counseling, individual therapy is often the first step people take when sadness, hopelessness, or anxiety become overwhelming.

In 45-60 minute sessions, your counselor may delve into your childhood, relationships, grief, and past experiences to identify the underlying causes and situations contributing to your issues. The discussions will help you find lifestyle changes, coping mechanisms, and effective strategies for managing your symptoms.

Your counselor may use evidence-based therapies like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy to help you change your ways of thinking and reactions. Your therapist may suggest complementary treatments to aid your recovery.

Family Therapy

Family therapy is beneficial for treating issues that affect the mental health of the entire family. Family relations may be strained or challenged due to a family member’s substance use disorder or addiction.

Family therapists guide discussions by examining and understanding how the issue impacts the mental health of each individual and the family as a whole. During the sessions, the family will learn to identify and address detrimental patterns and find alternatives to promote care and understanding. Family therapy is effective in strengthening family bonds.

Family therapy is often used in residential addiction treatment to improve the long-term recovery rate of the patient.

Group Therapy and Support Groups

Discussing your mental health challenges and struggles in a safe, confidential group environment led by a counselor or therapist lets you know you are not alone. Structured group therapy allows attendees to learn from the shared experiences of others facing similar challenges.

Support groups and 12-step programs are other options for peer support from others who know what you are going through. You may find support groups through your treatment center or local resources.

Neurofeedback Therapy

Neurofeedback therapy is growing in popularity as a complementary or alternative approach to address mental health symptoms that may hinder a patient’s progress. Effective for treating substance use and certain other mental health disorders, this brain-training therapy alleviates mental health symptoms and reinforces healthy brain function.

Caron uses neurofeedback therapy for patients to reduce their levels of stress, improve attention, and learn new behaviors to minimize their chances of relapse. Our specially trained professionals, including psychologists and neurotherapists, work with the patient’s treatment team to develop an integrated treatment plan.

Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) and Prescription Medications

Treatment for a drug or alcohol addiction may require medication-assisted treatment to help manage withdrawal symptoms. When patients stop using opioids or alcohol, the detoxification process can be dangerous or lethal. However, medical supervision of MAT medications eases the symptoms and cravings to aid in a successful recovery.

Your mental health provider may also prescribe psychiatric drugs to treat one or co-occurring mental health disorders. Mental health medications, like antidepressants, are vital for managing symptoms and improving your mental well-being. Medicines work in combination with therapeutic counseling methods for a whole-patient approach to the treatment of mental health and substance use disorders.

Your medical doctor will monitor your reaction to the drugs, side effects, proper dosing, and interactions with other medications through careful medication management. In addition, the doctor will ensure the medicines do not interfere with other prescription medications or supplements you may take.

Health and Wellness Services

The mind-body connection is powerful and is often evident in patients dealing with chronic mental health conditions. Depression and anxiety can manifest as aches and pains in the body, for example. Conversely, a regular self-care routine can help ease those symptoms. A complete mental health treatment plan includes physical wellness offerings to help restore physical health and teach healthy habits.

Yoga, fitness, nutrition, and spiritual counseling can be important factors in recovery. At Caron Treatment Centers, we focus on whole-body recovery with a mind, body, and spirit wellness program.

Services Where You Need Them

Mental health services are available in in-patient settings, such as psychiatric hospitals or residential treatment facilities, and outpatient environments, including the service provider’s office, private practices, or a treatment center. Partial hospitalization is another option serving as a bridge for patients who have completed in-patient addiction treatment but are not ready for an outpatient level of care.

Your treatment plan, the severity of your illness or addiction, age (youth under the age of 18 may require a specialized program) and personal circumstances help determine the best setting for your care. The location and treatment types may change during your treatment program.

Mental health services provide support, coping tools, structure and guidance essential for your healing and recovery. Seeking help from your family, friends and mental health experts will put you on a journey of self-discovery toward living a life you can control.

Caron is Your Treatment Center

Caron knows there is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all approach. That’s why we offer both inpatient and outpatient mental health treatment options. This range of mental health support is designed to treat young adults and adults who are managing the following disorders:

ADHD
Anger management
Anxiety
Autism spectrum disorder
Bipolar disorders
Depressive disorders
Dual diagnosis
Obsessive compulsive disorder
Personality disorders
Thought disorders
Trauma

We also recognize the need for specialized treatment for certain populations, and we now offer patient-centered mental health support for the following groups (and more):

Recovery and treatment for mental health conditions can be a long, difficult road. Let our team help determine your best treatment options.