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SMH’s guide: What to ask when choosing a mental health clinic
March 11, 2022 at 8:00 AM
The waiting room of a mental health clinic.

Working toward improved mental health is a massive step toward a happier, more fulfilling life. However, with so many options available, finding the right mental health clinic is daunting. Luckily, Synchronous Mental Health is here to help. As the premier provider serving Washington, Oregon, Florida, Arizona, Texas, and Colorado, we boast unmatched telehealth services and a dedicated staff with over 22 years of patient care experience. Moreover, we emphasize comprehensive assessments and individualized treatment.

Here are crucial questions to ask when choosing a mental health center:

What kinds of treatments or methods do you use?

When choosing a mental health clinic, always ask about the treatments and methods they use at their practice.

You will invariably encounter some approaches that are innovative and novel and some that are tried and true. While both can be effective, what matters most is they are rooted in reliable scientific evidence.

Find a mental health clinic committed to evidence-based practices and find clinics that tell you specifically what therapies and treatments they use, how they help patients, and what scientific research these strategies are supported by.

Ultimately, some untested treatment approaches may sound good on paper or a website, and they may even seem like a relaxing, enjoyable, easy fix. However, be wary of any treatment program that promises an easy fix.

If you are looking for proven, science-based treatments, at SMH, we are an unequaled mental health service provider.

What accreditation or licensing do you have?

It’s crucial to ask about accreditation and licensing when choosing a mental health clinic. Working with inadequately qualified clinics results in money and time wasted.

Moreover, it often does far more harm than good. An accredited facility signals a commitment to a higher standard of care and treatment. By law, mental health professionals must continue education and hold specific licenses and qualifications.

Asking for and verifying specific licensing and accreditation is imperative. Also, ask about the qualifications of their staff. Some programs hire staff with minimum qualifications to reduce costs.

Vetting their staff is essential to ensuring your mental health center always adheres to the best practices and everyone working there is credible and has the expertise to help you. More importantly, always consider your unique needs.

Some mental health providers specialize in treating specific disorders, while others are licensed to administer a specific type of care. For specific needs, find a center with the qualifications to administer the care you need.

If finding an accredited, licensed, and qualified mental health service provider is a priority, look no further than SMH.

What kind of assessment and individualized treatment programs do you offer?

Lastly, when choosing a mental health clinic, ask about assessments and individualized programs. Never choose a center that treats their patients like just another patient.

For mental health treatment, extensive intake practices that include comprehensive assessments for all mental illnesses and disorders are critical. You should always receive a complete, deferential diagnosis before they design a treatment plan.

More importantly, ensure the mental health clinic designates and tailors specific therapeutic approaches and treatments to each client’s diagnoses, physical health, background, symptoms, preferences, and goals.

There are no one-size-fits-all treatments, and centers that administer this kind of care are, at best, ineffectual, and, at worst, detrimental.

Contact us now to get started with an assessment!

Optimized mental health means optimized happiness, and finding the right mental health clinic is crucial to optimizing both. Fortunately, at SMH, we boast unrivaled experience and expertise, and we always emphasize comprehensive assessments to provide precise, individualized treatment. Moreover, our unmatched telehealth services make mental health treatment more convenient than ever. Contact us now to get started with an assessment!