How do you choose a counselor that understands the caregivers’ needs?
Life has changed and it is overwhelming. What you previously knew or planned for your life has turned upside down. Friends and family are a great support but like you they are at a loss for what to say and how to best help you navigate this new role. As humans, we need to be able to balance our physical, spiritual, and mental health to not only cope with life but to have joy. No matter what phase your loved one’s care is at, it is never too late or early to search for help from a counselor.
As a care partner, I waited until I was very overwhelmed before I found support from a counselor. Please don’t follow my lead, reach out now. The counselor can provide a safe place to vent. They do not know your loved one and can have an unbiased voice regarding your feelings. Let me share the benefits of therapy that I received.
Able to share my thoughts and feelings without guilt that I was angry at my situation.
Received tools to be able to better handle my situation.
Understand that what I was experiencing was not unusual and that I was “normal” in how I was feeling.
Someone to just listen and not state how it could have been much worse or tell me that someone they knew had it much worse.
Felt more in control of my destiny utilizing the tools given.
Better understanding of what my loved one was experiencing as well as more patience.
Helped me to make the transition from a caregiver mentality to a Care Partner focus.
How can you choose the correct counselor for you?
Finding someone that you click with and has experience around your concern is critical. The personal relationship between you and the therapist will determine the success of your therapy. The terms “counselor” and “therapist” are used casually as mental health providers but there is a difference.
The American Counseling Association notes that counselling is often goals-focused. You may come to counselling to work on goals for your mental health, overall wellness, or career or education milestones.
Treatment areas include:
individual, couples, family, and group therapy
trauma
marital or relationship issues
alcohol or substance use
struggles with anger or low self-esteem.
loss or grief
multiple issues, such as PTSD with substance use.
Typically, a counselor focuses on present day problems that may be affecting your overall mental health and well-being. They can assess your mental health and help you work on reducing symptoms and feeling better. Like counselors, therapists focus on treatments that can benefit your overall mental health and well-being. Therapy sessions can happen:
one-on-one (individual therapy)
with your partner or family
in a group setting
The kinds of conditions treated by therapists are often the same as those treated by counselors. According to the National Institute of Mental Health Trusted Source, conditions treated with therapy include:
stress
grief or loss
relationship or family issues
depression
anxiety
bipolar disorder
PTSD
other mental health conditions
Both therapists and counselors may be trained in specialized forms of talk therapy. This involves verbalizing your problems to help work through solutions that may also involve changes to your thinking and behaviors. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is one option.
The goal of therapy is to relieve your symptoms and help you improve your quality of life. But it’s important to ask a therapist what kinds of techniques and approaches they will use to help. This can help you find the right strategy for your needs.
How do you choose a counselor or therapist?
What are you wanting to accomplish? What are your goals?
For example, my goal was to be better able to handle my situation in a positive way as well as find joy in this new reality.
What can you afford?
The average cost of psychotherapy in the U.S. ranges from $100 to $200 per session (depending on the state), according to a 2019 report by Simple Practice, a practice management system for mental health professionals[1]. When seeing a therapist in person, you’re likely to be billed per session. There are instances, however, when you would be billed a monthly fee, such as for subscription-based services received through an app or online therapy platform. Your average monthly cost depends on your per-session rate and session frequency.
If you have health insurance, you likely have a copay for therapist visits. If your therapist is considered “out of network,” you may have to pay out of pocket, meaning you must pay the entire fee. Some therapists also allow their patients to pay on a sliding scale, with or without insurance.
If you find a therapist who has a sliding scale payment plan, they will often use your income information to determine the cost of your sessions. Ultimately, your hourly fee may still vary from one therapist to another, but the cost is calculated with your financial means and need in mind.
Ask for referrals?
Talking to others, especially in a support group, can open a conversation on what worked for them and who they felt comfortable with. I spoke to several friends that I knew had utilized services either in the past or currently for suggestions.
Your physician is all a great source to help direct you to the proper therapist/counselor.
Do you want to do your therapy online or in person?
There has been an explosion of online services and applications now available that are inexpensive and can be accomplished in your home. It is dependent on your comfort level, access to care and what you prefer.
For example, I preferred a live in person meeting. I wanted to be away from home and a place that was just for me.
Some of the most used online search tools include:
Here are a few examples of organizations that offer search tools to help you find a specialized therapist near you:
American Stroke Association
AARP
On you first visit…
The American Psychological Association suggests a few questions to consider asking your therapist during your first session:
Are you a licensed psychologist in this state?
How many years have you been in practice?
How much experience do you have working with people who are dealing with [the issue you’d like to resolve]?
What do you consider to be your specialty or area of expertise?
What kinds of treatments have you found effective in resolving [the issue you’d like to resolve]?
Red Flags to look out for…
Does the room make you feel physically uncomfortable? Does it feel private and secure?
Are you experiencing overwhelming feelings of anxiety or panic? Some anxiety or nervousness is understandable, but you’ll want to communicate to your therapist if you’re experiencing symptoms of an anxiety or panic attack.
Do you feel comfortable telling your therapist anything? Are they making you feel judged or uneasy in any way?
Is your therapist completely present with you throughout your session?
Does the therapist interrupt you, or do they listen carefully to what you’re saying?
Does the therapist respect your time by being prompt to appointments?
Does the therapist brush off or invalidate your concerns?
Do you feel seen, heard, and respected during your session?
Resources:
Affordable Mental Health Services | Walter's Walk Counseling | United States (walterswalk.com)
Psychology Today https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/grief/missouri
betterhelp.com https://www.betterhelp.com
Contact your insurance company for in network providers
Find Healthcare Providers: Compare Care Near You | Medicare
Find Medicare-approved providers near you & compare care quality for nursing homes, doctors, hospitals, hospice centers, more. Official Medicare site.
Medicare info pulled from the site Medicare.gov Outpatient Mental Health Coverage (medicare.gov)
Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) helps pay for these outpatient mental health services:
One depression screening per year. You must get the screening in a primary care doctor’s office or primary care clinic that can provide follow-up treatment and referrals.
Individual and group psychotherapy with doctors (or with certain other licensed professionals, as the state where you get the services allows).
Family counseling, if the main purpose is to help with your treatment.
Testing to find out if you’re getting the services you need and if your current treatment is helping you.
Psychiatric evaluation.
Medication management.
Certain prescription drugs that aren’t usually “self administered” (drugs you would normally take on your own), like some injections.
Diagnostic tests.
Intensive outpatient program services (starting January 1, 2024).
A one-time “Welcome to Medicare” preventive visit. This visit includes a review of your possible risk factors for depression.
A yearly “Wellness” visit. Talk to your doctor or other health care provider about changes in your mental health since your last visit.
Part B also covers outpatient mental health services as part of substance use disorder treatment.
Your costs in Original Medicare
You pay nothing for your yearly depression screening if your doctor or health care provider accepts assignment.
After you meet the Part B deductible, you pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount. for visits to your doctor or other health care provider to diagnose or treat your condition.
If you get your services in a hospital outpatient clinic or hospital outpatient department, you may have to pay an additional copayment or coinsurance amount to the hospital.
For more information on what worked for us, check out “Stroke and the Spouse” available on Amazon or open the order book tab!
Stroke Caregiver Connection…Because you care!