In my experience, while the stigma of getting mental health services still exists, it’s not like it used to be. I’ve been in the field long enough to recall a time when no one would admit to going to counseling. The notion that one had depression, anxiety or some other condition that generated in the brain, was kept hush. Prozac and other antidepressants came on the scene and offered relief to millions who were suffering in silence. What was underestimated was the number of people who needed a solution for chronic depression and anxiety. Weirdly, I think the advent of effective medications has helped to lessen the stigma associated with getting help. There are tons of commercials with people who look like you and me discussing how meds have changed their lives. It’s true; medication can make a huge difference to people struggling on a day to day basis with mental health disorders.
Counseling helps, too. In fact, counseling and medication have been shown to be effective when conducted together. Yes, counseling can work without medication, but people who are on medication should almost always consider counseling.
So if the shame associated with having a mental health disorder has lessened, then why are more individuals in therapy? Here’s a simple answer–it’s hard to find a therapist! If you use your insurance, you’re often restricted to seeing someone in your network. If you find a therapist who specializes in your concerns, you work up the nerve to call, you may or may not receive a return call. I’m just repeating what I’ve heard from many clients across the country. Not only is that unprofessional, but it’s also dismissive of a client’s needs. If I called a professional who didn’t bother to return my call, I’d be hesitant to call another.
There is a trend among therapists to not participate in accepting insurance. I get it. There are many stressors associated with taking insurance and contrary to popular belief; insurance almost never pays a therapist their full rate. Therapists are then left to overbook and overwork themselves to make a decent living. This creates back logs in getting clients seen in a reasonable timeframe and unbelievably long wait lists. By the time a person gets an appointment, they’ve either lost the nerve or desire to get counseling and frankly, that’s sad. Therapists, we have to do better.
CCD is committed to decreasing the obstacles to getting good care. We are primarily school-based but also see children and adults in our office. We never have a wait list. Most new referrals get an appointment within a week. We recognize that making that first phone call requires courage. If we miss your call; you can expect to hear from us within 24 hours.
We accept most insurance plans. However, if you have a plan that we don’t take, you can call your insurance company to see if you have an ‘out of network’ benefit. Some programs allow for their members to be seen by providers who aren’t contracted with a particular plan. If your insurance covers out of network services, we will give you a detailed receipt. You can submit it to your plan and get the reimbursement sent directly to you.
You know what else we offer to help make services more accessible? We can conduct therapy over the internet! Right from the comfort of your home, we can connect with you using a secure, HIPAA compliant software. All you need is a cell phone or computer with a camera. Many insurance companies pay for this service. So even if you live in Southern Delaware, we can still ‘see’ you.
If finding a therapist who will call you back, accepts your insurance and who specializes in your concerns, call us. We’ll get you connected with a professional who can help you get your life on track. Call us now to discuss your most pressing concerns.