Deciding to finally get help for the sake of your mental health is the hardest step toward recovering. Believe me, I’ve been there. Going through insurance, school counselors, and various mental health specialists can be really stressful, so I’m here to help you figure out what you might want to do.
1. Make an appointment with your school counseling program.
Here at UC Davis, we have an easy way to do this. Visit the Student Health and Counseling website and make an appointment. You can use your e-messaging account; however, you might have to call and talk to someone over the phone, so here’s a sample script: “Hi, my name is ______ and I would like to make an appointment for myself as soon as possible. When are the next available dates?”
UC Davis offers individual counseling, group counseling, eating disorder services, and community referrals. I ended up going with the community referral, which was recommended by the person I saw due to the evaluation of my mental health and my insurance situation. If your school’s services feel like the right fit for you, then definitely give those a try. Pursuing therapy on campus is convenient and safe.
2. Call your insurance.
If you do decide to start seeing a counselor, therapist, psychologist, or psychiatrist outside of your school’s health services, you will need to call your insurance. Call the customer service number on your insurance card. You may have to wait a few minutes, but you will be connected to someone who can look up all of the in-network mental health specialists in your insurance plan. Again, I know this can be stressful for people who don’t like to talk on the phone.
You can do it, I promise. To make things easier, be sure to have your insurance information right in front of you. The insurance representative will ask for your member ID and policy number. They might also ask for your Social Security number, so be sure to have that on hand, too. Then they’ll ask what they can do for you. Here’s a sample script: “Hi, I’m looking for mental health specialists in my area. Could you please provide me with a list of in-network counselors, therapists, psychologists, and psychiatrists?” They’ll give you the names and numbers of whoever is covered by your insurance policy.
3. Go shopping for a mental health specialist.
It can feel weird, but I made four appointments all in the same week because I was so desperate to get going with therapy. Once you have the list of in-network mental health specialists, you’re going to have to call them. I know, more calling. It’s hard, but it’ll get easier. Most mental health specialists work during the day, so they may or may not pick up when you call. If they do, then use this script: “Hi, my name is ___________ and I received a referral from my school for therapy. I’m wondering if you have any appointments available for an evaluation sometime soon?” The mental health specialist will let you know if they’re seeing new clients and will figure out a good time for both of you to meet.
If they don’t pick up their phone, be sure to leave your name, why you’re calling, what availability you have in the next week or so, and your phone number for them to call you back. Most mental health specialists will call back within 48 hours to let you know if they have any availability.
4. If you need to, go back home.
If you have difficulty getting a referral for therapy outside of your school’s services, you can always go back to your hometown physician and explain your situation. They will most likely write a referral for you and you can start at step 2 of this process. Some mental health specialists are willing to take on new clients without a referral, so you can always ask about that when you’re calling to make those first few appointments.
From here, you can choose the therapy that’s best for you. Starting the process is the hardest part. I’m proud of you for deciding to get help and I hope you start down the wonderful path of recovery soon.