What Do We Need?
I often get questions from clients looking for resources other than what I provide. There are a lot of professionals in the mental health world, and they do a variety of things. It can be confusing to navigate this system, and I won't be the right fit for everyone looking for services. Hopefully this helps you sort out who does what and helps you narrow down what you're looking for.
Psychiatrists (M.D.s)- Psychiatrists are medical doctors who specialize in mental health. Usually their role is to write prescriptions for mental health medications. That could be anything from mood stabilizers, ADHD medication, to antidepressants. After your initial intake, you can expect appointments with a psychiatrist to be brief and focus on how your medication is working. If you're looking for a psychiatrist in Athens (especially one that deals with kids), expect a waiting list of a few weeks to a few months. You usually won't need any referral to make an appointment.
Psychologists (Ph.D or PsyD)-Psychologists almost always do testing. This is helpful if you need a diagnosis, or if you need more information about what resources you or your child need. Testing could involve IQ testing, testing for learning disabilities, gifted, ADHD, Autism Spectrum, etc. Testing will usually require an intake appointment to get more information, and then several hours of testing which may be split up over multiple days. Right now, the wait in Athens for a psychologist who sees kids is anywhere from 2 weeks to 5 months, depending on who you're seeing. Some psychologists also offer counseling. You shouldn't need any referral to make an appointment.
Licensed clinical social workers (LCSWs), Marriage and Family Therapists (MFTs), Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs)- All these therapists have at least master's level training in counseling. Expect sessions to be about an hour, and focus on talking about feelings or strategies to improve areas of your life. None of these professionals will be offering testing or writing prescriptions, unless they are also a psychologist or psychiatrist. Many people consider counseling the least invasive form of treatment and these professionals are often the first line of defense when an issue arises. You shouldn't need any referral to make an appointment. A good therapist can also make appropriate referrals to other professionals when needed.
Play Therapists (R-PTs)- Play therapists are therapists in one of the above categories that have gotten extensive training in play therapy through the Association for Play Therapy in addition to the degree that they hold. Play is the language of children and a non-threatening way to engage children in difficult topics. Expect play therapy sessions to incorporate play in some form- from drama to art to role play to games. Because anyone can market that they do play therapy, it may be difficult to ascertain if a therapist has training in play therapy or not. Play therapists have the initials R-PT behind their name, and those who don't yet have the certification should be able to tell you about the trainings they've attended. (Side note: five of the therapists in our office have training in play therapy).
Parent Coaches- A parent coach is someone who provides strategies, resources, and information to parents regarding their child(ren). Some parent coaches have no training other than being parents themselves. Others are child therapists who are extensively trained in child development and provide parent coaching sessions in addition to therapy.
Occupational Therapists- (OTs) are not mental health professionals, but I include them here because our work often overlaps. OTs help patients improve the functions of their nervous system. They can help increase motor skills, self- awareness, sensory modulation, vocational skills, self regulation, and even social skills. We refer to OTs when we suspect that a client's behavior may be due in part to disturbances in sensory processing. OTs do assessments and occupational therapy appointments. Many clients see OTs in conjunction with their mental health treatment provider. If you're looking for an OT in Athens, both hospitals have OT departments, as well as Active Kidz in Watkinsville. You'll need a physician's order for a referral.
Not sure where to start? You aren't alone. If you want to use insurance benefits, you may want to start by calling the number on the back of your card to see which providers in the area are covered under your plan.
Psychiatrists (M.D.s)- Psychiatrists are medical doctors who specialize in mental health. Usually their role is to write prescriptions for mental health medications. That could be anything from mood stabilizers, ADHD medication, to antidepressants. After your initial intake, you can expect appointments with a psychiatrist to be brief and focus on how your medication is working. If you're looking for a psychiatrist in Athens (especially one that deals with kids), expect a waiting list of a few weeks to a few months. You usually won't need any referral to make an appointment.
Psychologists (Ph.D or PsyD)-Psychologists almost always do testing. This is helpful if you need a diagnosis, or if you need more information about what resources you or your child need. Testing could involve IQ testing, testing for learning disabilities, gifted, ADHD, Autism Spectrum, etc. Testing will usually require an intake appointment to get more information, and then several hours of testing which may be split up over multiple days. Right now, the wait in Athens for a psychologist who sees kids is anywhere from 2 weeks to 5 months, depending on who you're seeing. Some psychologists also offer counseling. You shouldn't need any referral to make an appointment.
Licensed clinical social workers (LCSWs), Marriage and Family Therapists (MFTs), Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs)- All these therapists have at least master's level training in counseling. Expect sessions to be about an hour, and focus on talking about feelings or strategies to improve areas of your life. None of these professionals will be offering testing or writing prescriptions, unless they are also a psychologist or psychiatrist. Many people consider counseling the least invasive form of treatment and these professionals are often the first line of defense when an issue arises. You shouldn't need any referral to make an appointment. A good therapist can also make appropriate referrals to other professionals when needed.
Play Therapists (R-PTs)- Play therapists are therapists in one of the above categories that have gotten extensive training in play therapy through the Association for Play Therapy in addition to the degree that they hold. Play is the language of children and a non-threatening way to engage children in difficult topics. Expect play therapy sessions to incorporate play in some form- from drama to art to role play to games. Because anyone can market that they do play therapy, it may be difficult to ascertain if a therapist has training in play therapy or not. Play therapists have the initials R-PT behind their name, and those who don't yet have the certification should be able to tell you about the trainings they've attended. (Side note: five of the therapists in our office have training in play therapy).
Parent Coaches- A parent coach is someone who provides strategies, resources, and information to parents regarding their child(ren). Some parent coaches have no training other than being parents themselves. Others are child therapists who are extensively trained in child development and provide parent coaching sessions in addition to therapy.
Occupational Therapists- (OTs) are not mental health professionals, but I include them here because our work often overlaps. OTs help patients improve the functions of their nervous system. They can help increase motor skills, self- awareness, sensory modulation, vocational skills, self regulation, and even social skills. We refer to OTs when we suspect that a client's behavior may be due in part to disturbances in sensory processing. OTs do assessments and occupational therapy appointments. Many clients see OTs in conjunction with their mental health treatment provider. If you're looking for an OT in Athens, both hospitals have OT departments, as well as Active Kidz in Watkinsville. You'll need a physician's order for a referral.
Not sure where to start? You aren't alone. If you want to use insurance benefits, you may want to start by calling the number on the back of your card to see which providers in the area are covered under your plan.
