How to find appropriate behavioral health services in our community
In the event that our Department does not offer the services you need, we have prepared this guide to finding appropriate behavioral health services in our community. There are five recommended steps:
Step 1. Identify the types of providers to look for
Step 2. Determine how you will pay for services
Step 3. Obtain an appropriate list of in-network providers
Step 4. Use our online referral database to find appropriate providers
Step 5. Contact as many providers as is necessary
Step 1. Identify the type of providers to look for
The first step is to determine if you are interested in psychotherapy (also known as counseling), psychiatric medication, or some other type of service (e.g., assessment).
There are six major types of professionals who provide behavioral health services. Each of these types of professionals is licensed by a State Board. These include the following:
Licensed Psychologists hold doctoral degrees (PhD, PsyD, or EdD) and typically provide psychotherapy and psychological assessment services.
Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSW) are required to hold a master's degree in social work (MSW) and typically provide psychotherapy.
Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC) typically hold master's degrees in counseling (e.g., MS) and provide psychotherapy.
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapists (LMFT) are required to hold a master's degree in marriage and family therapy. Most provide individual and couple’s therapy and many may also provide family therapy. Please note that many psychologists, social workers, and counselors also provide couple’s therapy.
Psychiatrists are initially trained as medical doctors (MD or DO), and then receive additional training in psychiatry. They typically specialize in biological treatments (e.g., medication), particularly for more complex and severe psychiatric disorders. Most do not provide psychotherapy.
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners (PMHNP-BC) are required to hold at least a master's degree in nursing and to have specialized in psychiatric services. They typically specialize in medication management and most do not provide psychotherapy.
Other professionals who may provide behavioral health services include Certified Alcohol & Drug Counselors (CADC), and unlicensed practitioners who are being formally supervised by a licensed practitioner.
If you are looking for psychotherapy, we recommend you search for psychologists, LCSWs, LPCs, and LMFTs. If you are interested in psychiatric medication, it is recommended that you consult with your primary care physician first. If you want to consult with a specialist, search for psychiatrists and psychiatric nurse practitioners.
We recommend that you obtain services only from providers who are appropriately licensed or who are under appropriate supervision. You can verify that a provider has an active license by contacting the relevant professional State board (see links above).
Step 2. Determine how you will pay for services
If you have health insurance, call the number on the back of your insurance card or or access your account online. Links to many of the major insurance companies and plans commonly seen in our area can be found here. Determine the answers to the following questions:
(1) Does my plan cover behavioral health services?
(2) What is my deductible and has it been met?
(3) What is my copay?
(4) How many sessions per year does my plan cover?
(5) Do I need a referral to a provider or can I self-refer?
(6) Is there any coverage for out-of-network providers?
We have prepared a guide regarding how to estimate the cost of psychotherapy if you have insurance. If you do not have insurance and wish to obtain it, see our guide to obtaining health insurance. If you concerned about being able to afford services, see information about lower cost services at the end of this guide. For more information about insurance coverage, see the following article from the American Psychological Association: Does your insurance cover mental health services?
Step 3. Obtain an appropriate list of in-network providers
If you have health insurance, go to your insurance company's website and use their search function. Typically you will enter the name of your insurance plan, your zip code with a desired radius (e.g., 10 miles), and the type of provider you are seeking. Once you have determined you have located a comprehensive list of appropriate professionals, you can typically download a PDF file. If you have any difficulty, call the number on the back of your insurance card. Prior to scheduling an appointment with a provider, please verify that they are still in your network by calling your insurance company and/or asking the provider.
Please be aware that many of the listed providers work for county mental health (e.g., either Benton County or Linn County). It is recommended that you check with these agencies to determine whether you are eligible for their services. If you are not, you can eliminate these providers from your search. Many other providers work for Samaritan Mental Health Services. Many of them do not accept direct self-referrals. It is recommended that you call Samaritan to inquire about how to access services when considering these providers.
Step 4. Use our online referral database to find appropriate providers
You are currently on the site of our online database of providers in our area. This database is organized into eight sections:
(1) Guidance: This section provides guidance about how to find appropriate behavioral health services.
(2) Master lists: This section attempts to offer comprehensive lists of providers of psychotherapy, psychiatric services, and social services in our area.
(3) Problems: This section of our database is organized by different types of presenting problems, including psychiatric disorders, psychosocial issues, and health conditions.
(4) Populations: This section of our database is organized by the service needs of different groups of people (e.g., adults, children/adolescents, LBGTQ, veterans).
(5) Locations: We are developing lists of providers in areas immediately outside our service area (e.g., the Coast, Salem, Eugene).
(6) Services: This section lists providers by the type of service provided (e.g., couple's therapy, DBT, neurocognitive testing, lower-cost services).
(7) Insurance plans: This section offers information about some of the major health insurance providers in our area, including links to their databases of in-network providers.
(8) Databases: Links to other online databases of providers of behavioral health services.
If you intend to use your health insurance, we recommend that you cross-reference providers you find on our Database with the list of in-network providers from your insurance company.
Step 5. Contact as many providers as is necessary
Create a list of providers that you have identified as good candidates. Call as many of them as is necessary to find one who is appropriate and is accepting new patients. Often you will reach an answering machine, and so leave a message stating that the type of service you are seeking. The provider should call you back, but this does not always occur. When you speak with a prospective provider over the phone, it is recommended that you ask whether they accept your insurance, information about their fees, and their experience in providing services to people who have problems similar to yours.
Once you are working with a behavioral health provider, if you are not entirely satisfied with the service you receiving, let the provider know and give them a chance to try to better meet your needs. If you remain dissatisfied, ask for their help in obtaining a suitable referral.
Lower cost services
The county mental health departments offer lower cost psychotherapeutic and psychiatric services to people who qualify. Some psychotherapists sometimes offer what is called a "sliding scale" (a fee based on a patient's ability to pay). Unlicensed psychotherapists who are being supervised by a licensed therapist typically cost less. Group psychotherapy is another lower cost option. Support groups or self-help materials may be sufficient for some people, or can help supplement professional services. See our page for lower cost services for more information.
Additional resources
A guide to obtaining health insurance
Estimating the cost of psychotherapy if you have insurance
What do I need to know about my insurance benefits? By Mental Health America.
Disclaimer
The providers listed in our Database have indicated they have the competencies listed, but we have not independently evaluated their competencies. We verified that they were licensed in the State of Oregon when they were first added to the database, but we do not continuously monitor their license status. Information on this list is provided “as is” and without any warranty, expressed or implied, including, but not limited to, any implied warranty of fitness (e.g., the appropriateness of a specific provider for a person's particular needs).