When You Reach For Help: Choosing the Right Provider

CIGNA Behavioral Health is pleased that you have taken that first step toward personal and mental wellness. It takes courage to ask for help, and we all need it at times. As a matter of fact, every day more than 3,500 people reach out to CIGNA Behavioral Health for support and assistance. CIGNA Behavioral Health recognizes that these experiences may be new, and if you've never sought care from a behavioral health specialist before, it can be hard to know what to expect when you call for the first time. A behavioral health specialist is a person who has professional training in assisting others with issues related to mental health, substance abuse, family/relationship issues and childhood behavioral problems, just to name a few.

It is our job at CIGNA Behavioral Health to connect you to the best care possible. Every person has specific needs unique to their own experience, so not everyone's road to wellness will look the same. Some people may need only a few sessions to find they have resolved their issues, but others may need more time to work through what has been troubling them; some may begin taking medications while some may not. Everyone is different, and everyone's therapy is different.

The first step is to receive an evaluation. Generally this first session is spent working with a therapist, psychologist, or counselor. These behavioral health professionals carry varying degrees - you might see the initials MA, MS, LMFT, LMHC, PhD, PsyD, EDD, or even RN behind the names of the professionals you see. Therapists, psychologists, and counselors receive extensive education in the field of psychology and social work and are all licensed to offer therapeutic services. Each provider or behavioral health professional may also carry different specialties - some might work with children only, others may choose to work with couples, others still may see only adults. Most have a broad range of specialties, and some specialize in certain issues. Due to the knowledge CIGNA Behavioral Health has of our extensive provider network, we can help refine your search for providers to meet your specific needs.

Therapy sessions generally run about 50-60 minutes a meeting. Your provider will work with you to assess how frequently you should meet. Some people might only visit their provider once a month, others may decide they would like to talk with someone weekly. Therapists and counselors offer "talk therapy;" they are not able to prescribe medications, but they are able to recognize if medication is right for you. If your therapist or counselor believes you might need medication, they would communicate this to you and can often help refer you to a doctor they work with or know. It is important to remember that if your counselor or therapist does recommend someone to you, it's always best to check with CIGNA Behavioral Health to see if they are within your network of providers. If they are not, a personal advocate can help you find someone that is in-network.

After you have begun talk therapy, and it has been recommended by your therapist, counselor, or primary care physician that you begin to take medication for your condition, you will need to see a psychiatrist. A psychiatrist is a M.D. - a Medical Doctor - meaning he/she has attended medical school and specialized in the field of psychiatry. Psychiatrists have the ability to prescribe and monitor medications used for behavioral health conditions. They have vast knowledge of the varying medications available, possible side effects, and which are best suited for specific needs.

While psychiatrists have been trained to counsel and to prescribe medications, some prefer to only offer medication management. Therefore, many people see both a therapist for the counseling and a psychiatrist for their medication management. Once in a while, you may find a psychiatrist that offers both services - counseling and medication management - but this does not usually occur, as most psychiatrists focus on medication management. Thus, a psychiatrist may require that you see a therapist or counselor while on your medication to ensure that you are getting the best and most comprehensive care possible. A visit to the psychiatrist for medication management may be very brief, lasting anywhere from 15-20 minutes. Your psychiatrist will usethis time to discuss any concerns you might have regarding the medication. She/he will want to know if you are experiencing any side effects and if so your doctor may need to adjust or change your prescription.

Every doctor is able to decide if he/she will offer only medication management or medication management and counseling. CIGNA Behavioral Health does not have this information, so you may need to do a little research if finding one psychiatrist to perform both services is important to you. Generally all it will take is a call to the doctor's office. The doctor or their staff will be happy to let you know what the doctor's routine is regarding patient care. Sometimes is will depend on the participant's situation or specific issue, but again this is up to the doctor's discretion. If you see your psychiatrist for both medication management and counseling your sessions will last about 50-60 minutes.

For Quick Review:

Therapist/Counselors

• Varying credentials - MA, MS, PhD, PsyD, LMFT, LMHC, EDD, RN
• Offer traditional "talk therapy"
• Sessions last about 1 hour.
• Cannot prescribe medication.
• Can make recommendation that you see an MD for medication.

• Credentials- MD
• Trained to offer both counseling and medication, but mainly help regulate your medication.
• May require that you see a therapist/counselor for talk therapy.
• Medication only - Sessions will last 15-20 minutes to discuss side effects, and dosage.
• Medication and Counseling - Sessions will last about an hour.
• Call doctor's office to know if he/she offers medication management only or medication management with counseling.