{"id":6509,"date":"2019-06-21T08:00:57","date_gmt":"2019-06-21T13:00:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.osfhealthcare.org\/blog\/?p=6509"},"modified":"2019-06-11T14:47:14","modified_gmt":"2019-06-11T19:47:14","slug":"finding-the-right-behavioral-health-provider-for-your-child","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/osf-blog.live.imagescape.com\/blog\/finding-the-right-behavioral-health-provider-for-your-child\/","title":{"rendered":"Finding the right behavioral health provider for your child"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Raising a child with <a href=\"http:\/\/healthlibrary.osfhealthcare.org\/Search\/85,P00766\">behavioral health issues<\/a> can be difficult, but finding help can be just as daunting.<\/p>\n<p>Once you\u2019ve <a href=\"https:\/\/www.osfhealthcare.org\/blog\/when-should-your-child-see-a-therapist\/\">made the decision<\/a> to find a therapist or another provider for your child, how do you find the right one?<\/p>\n<h2>Types of providers<\/h2>\n<p>Different types of behavioral health providers are available. Finding the right one to fit your child\u2019s needs can depend on several factors.<\/p>\n<p>Some of the providers to consider may be:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-6514 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/osf-blog.live.imagescape.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/choi-resource-sd1-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"family laying on ground in park.\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/osf-blog.live.imagescape.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/choi-resource-sd1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/osf-blog.live.imagescape.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/choi-resource-sd1-500x333.jpg 500w, https:\/\/osf-blog.live.imagescape.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/choi-resource-sd1-400x267.jpg 400w, https:\/\/osf-blog.live.imagescape.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/choi-resource-sd1.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>\n<p><strong>A counselor or therapist.<\/strong> Whether called a counselor, therapist or another name, these professionals typically have a master\u2019s degree in a mental health-related field such as psychology or counseling psychology.<\/li>\n<li><strong>A psychologist.<\/strong> A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.osfhealthcare.org\/providers\/search\/?specialty=11\">psychologist<\/a> usually has a higher level of training, earning a PhD in psychology. These professionals can diagnose behavioral health issues and provide therapy.<\/li>\n<li><strong>A psychiatrist.<\/strong> Psychiatrists are licensed medical doctors. Just like primary care physicians or other doctors, they have earned an MD (Doctor of Medicine) or a DO (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine), while a psychiatrist receives additional training in psychiatry. In addition to providing behavioral therapy, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.osfhealthcare.org\/providers\/search\/?specialty=25\">psychiatrists<\/a> can also prescribe medications.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Other professionals may also provide certain behavioral health or counseling services. These include nurse practitioners, primary care providers, <a href=\"http:\/\/healthlibrary.osfhealthcare.org\/Search\/85,P01179\">social workers<\/a> and religious leaders.<\/p>\n<p>When you meet with any of these professionals for an evaluation, it is completely appropriate to ask about their training, certifications and philosophy of care to determine whether they are the right provider for you and your child.<\/p>\n<h2>Finding a provider<\/h2>\n<p>Choosing a behavioral health provider can be difficult, and finding a professional who specializes in treating children and adolescents can be particularly challenging.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere are so many families who get lost,\u201d said Elise Albers, manager of population health for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.osfhealthcare.org\/childrens\/\">OSF HealthCare Children\u2019s Hospital of Illinois<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>OSF Children\u2019s Hospital created <a href=\"https:\/\/www.osfhealthcare.org\/childrens\/services\/behavioral-health\/resource-link\/\">Resource Link<\/a> to support primary care providers who needed to make referrals to adolescent behavioral health providers. The program was quickly expanded to be a resource to social workers, teachers and parents.<\/p>\n<p>The program includes care coordinators \u2013 all with background in social work \u2013 who are experts in the services available in their communities. They will start with intake to learn more about the child or teen and their family. Then the care coordinators will connect them with the appropriate behavioral health service.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cA care coordinator is a case worker who is removing barriers along the way,\u201d Elise said. \u201cResource Link takes the burden off the primary care provider or the parent of having to find a counseling provider who can take their insurance, who\u2019s available during the right time and who\u2019s within a reasonable distance.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Ask your OSF HealthCare primary care provider about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.osfhealthcare.org\/childrens\/services\/behavioral-health\/resource-link\/\">Resource Link<\/a>. You can also reach Resource Link directly by calling (309) 624-9781 to learn more.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Raising a child with behavioral health issues can be difficult, but finding help can be just as daunting. Once you\u2019ve made the decision to find a therapist or another provider for your child, how do you find the right one? Types of providers Different types of behavioral health providers are available. Finding the right one [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":60,"featured_media":6515,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[116],"tags":[142,621],"coauthors":[757],"class_list":["post-6509","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-pediatrics","tag-childrens-hospital-of-illinois","tag-therapy"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v25.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Finding the right behavioral health provider for your child | OSF HealthCare<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Once you\u2019ve made the decision to find a therapist or another provider for your child, how do you find the right one?\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" 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