Finding the right mental health provider

You need to feel 100% comfortable with who YOU choose as your provider — finding the right provider is important to establishing a therapeutic rapport and ensuring that you are going to receive the best service. Remember that your service provider works for YOU!

Questions to ask a provider

Some basic questions you may want to ask a Service Provider, Qualified Professional and/or other Clinician:

1. What is their level of education, training, licensure (if applicable), years of experience, and membership of any professional associations — and do they specialize in certain disorders or age groups? For example, some providers only provide Child & Adolescent services; some may specialize in eating disorders.
2. Do the clinicians who will be working with you and/or your child have specific training in an evidence-based model (if so — when, where, by whom and for how long)?
3. Does the individual clinician participate in ongoing clinical supervision? Does the agency provide ongoing clinical supervision, including how models of fidelity are monitored?
4. Which evidence-based approach(es) do the clinicians or the agency use when providing services?
5. How are cultural competency and any additional special needs addressed?
6. Do they offer assistance and/or services for people with limited English proficiency?