You may not realize just how many types of mental health providers are available until you start looking for one. Should you see a family practice doctor? A psychiatrist? Psychologist? Social worker? Does it matter?

Several considerations can help guide your decision:

• The severity of your symptoms
• Your medication needs
• The provider’s level of competence and expertise
• Your health insurance coverage

If your symptoms are severe and you may need medication to control them, you may want to first consult a psychiatrist, who can prescribe medications. Although your family doctor can also prescribe medications, a psychiatrist may be more familiar with the wide range of psychiatric medications, how to use them in combination, and how to manage their side effects.

If you’re facing conflicts with your teenagers or your marriage is rocky, you may instead want to consult a marriage and family therapist. Or you may want to see both a psychologist to talk about your problems and a psychiatrist to manage your medications.

On the other hand, you may not have a choice. Your health insurance may dictate who you can visit. Your insurance company or Medicare or Medicaid can tell you what types of mental health providers it provides coverage for and what your benefit limits are, such as how many visits you’re allowed. Some insurance plans, for instance, authorize more visits to a nurse, social worker or psychologist than to a psychiatrist, whose fees are usually higher.

Used by permission of Mayo Clinic website