Therapy Can Help in Divorce

     Divorce, along with the death of a spouse, can represent one of the most emotionally and psychologically challenging events in one’s life. Like the death of a spouse, divorce usually affects numerous aspects of life simultaneously, including finances, parenting, social life, career, where one lives and more.  While enduring the stress associated with such changes, divorcing individuals must also cope with the emotional pain associated with the loss of a spouse and any lingering feelings about an unsuccessful marriage.          

However, many divorced people do not receive the same level of sympathy and support as widows or widowers, who may be perceived as victims (Jacobson, 1983). Even if a recently divorced person feels supported by friends and family, he or she may still find that a degree of emotional and psychological help is desired. This may be especially true during the first two years after a divorce, which are usually the most difficult. (Hetherington, 2001). When this is the case, a capable therapist can help facilitate the healing process and personal change.      

It is natural when starting therapy, especially for the first time, to experience some uncomfortable feelings. There are a lot of unknowns about the person you are bringing into your world. Feeling some ambivalence is to be expected. Given that, how does one find and pick a qualified mental health professional?


WHERE THE THERAPISTS WORK

First, it’s important to decide where to seek help. Therapists work in a variety of settings that can accommodate a range of financial situations. They include: - Community-based mental health clinics. Many cities and counties run mental health clinics available only to residents. Such clinics typically offer low-fee therapy and counseling services to uninsured residents or those experiencing financial limitations. These clinics may employ students in graduate school programs to keep fees lower. These clinics can be found by contacting your city or county department of public health.

Health Maintenance Organizations.
Many HMOs have therapists on staff and available to members. Services are typically short-term and limited in scope. HMOs will not usually provide coverage for therapy services outside of their network.

Private (or group) practices.
Many therapists maintain a private practice or work as part of a larger private group practice and are not affiliated with a hospital or HMO. Hourly fees are usually higher with private practitioners, but most do offer a sliding scale to address individuals’ unique financial situations. Some private practitioners will accept or bill insurance plans while others require that individuals pay for services.

HOW TO GET REFERRED TO THERAPIST

The process of being referred to a therapist varies depending on where services are rendered.

Community-based mental health clinics.
People typically call the clinic and tell them that they are seeking psychotherapy. Clinics usually schedule an interview that may be conducted on the phone or, more frequently, in person. During this interview general questions will be asked about why the person is seeking services and fees (if applicable) may be discussed. After the initial interview, the person is usually assigned to a therapist who then contacts them to begin services.

Health Maintenance Organizations.
Follow the same procedure your HMO requires for seeking services from a specialist. Contacting one’s primary care physician and requesting a referral for mental health services (or “behavioral health services”) is usually an effective way to proceed with a HMO. Your HMO’s web site may offer additional information on seeking psychotherapy.

Private (group) practice.
Perhaps the best way to get referred to an effective private practitioner is to ask friends or relatives for a recommendation. If a more anonymous route is preferred, national professional associations can usually refer individuals to qualified therapists in a particular geographic area. Some large metropolitan areas will have local professional associations capable of making referrals, as well. Health insurance companies that cover mental health services will also have a list of approved mental health providers in a given geographic area. To ensure there are no surprises down the road, it is always a good idea to ask an insurance company how many sessions they will cover and up to what dollar amount. Searching on the Internet is also becoming an increasingly efficient way to find a therapist.