Nine Tips For Finding a Mental or Behavioral Health Professional That’s a Fit

Thrive • May 28, 2022

By Thrive Wellness Reno Clinical Director and Therapist Kerstin Trachok, CPC

If you’re interested in obtaining mental or behavioral health support, it can seem intimidating to begin the search for a provider. Connecting with a mental health provider that you trust can depend on highly personal preferences, which you’re absolutely entitled to possess. So, how should individuals go about finding and choosing a mental or behavioral health care professional that best fits their needs? We are so glad you asked!

Explore our top tips to consider when seeking and beginning mental or behavioral health care.

1. Reflect on the aspects of your well-being that are motivating you to seek mental or behavioral health support.

Take time to consider the state of your mental, emotional, behavioral, and even physical health, as these are all intertwined. Take note of the difficulties you’re facing and the symptoms you’re experiencing.

Often, individuals are driven to seek mental or behavioral health support for:

Major life transitions, such as a move, job change, divorce, or during the perinatal period
Grief and loss, such as parental grief
Symptoms of anxiety, such as intrusive thoughts or panic attacks
Symptoms of depression , such as chronic feelings of hopelessness
Unresolved traumatic experiences, such as childhood abuse or neglect or sexual assault
Self-destructive behaviors, such as substance abuse , disordered eating , or self-injurious behaviors
Suicidal thoughts or behaviors

If you think any of these circumstances or others are affecting your well-being, keep this in mind as you begin the process of connecting with care. You can tailor your search to providers that specialize in treating your concerns.

2. Decide what mental or behavioral health service you’d like to obtain.

Consider the kind of mental or behavioral health professional you’d prefer to see, as each discipline offers specific services. Counselors and therapists typically use traditional talk therapy, also known as psychotherapy, to treat their clients. Psychologists generally offer assessments to diagnose various conditions in addition to offering talk therapy. Psychiatrists can prescribe medication to help their clients manage their mental and behavioral health concerns. If you’re not sure what type of provider would best meet your needs, any clinic should be able to point you in the right direction, including Thrive Wellness .

3. Determine whether you’d prefer a more directive approach or process-oriented style.

Some mental and behavioral health professionals take a directive approach. Often these providers implement systematic therapeutic modalities, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), into clients’ treatment. In sessions with directive-driven providers, clients can expect to have structured discussions, learn concrete skills, and be assigned therapeutic homework.

Other mental and behavioral health professionals are more process-driven. These providers guide their clients in understanding their emotions and developing ways to manage them. For those who find the idea of exploring their experiences, thoughts, and emotions attractive, they may want to seek process-oriented providers who typically approach sessions with more flexibility.

4. Use available resources to explore your provider options and learn more about common therapeutic interventions.

Psychology Today hosts the profiles of many mental and behavioral health professionals, allowing readers to dive into their backgrounds, therapeutic approaches, specializations, modalities, insurance partners, rates, and more. Many providers also detail the interventions they implement in the biographies on their organization’s website or personal platforms. While browsing, you can gain some foundational knowledge about the various evidence-based approaches to treating mental and behavioral health concerns, such as CBT, trauma-informed therapies , and play therapy. You may discover you’re interested in trying a specific type of treatment and/or working with a particular provider.

5. Ensure your services are covered by insurance.

Mental and behavioral health care are considered essential health benefits by the Affordable Care Act (ACA), meaning that health insurance plans must cover mental and behavioral health care. During your search for a mental health professional, find out which providers are in-network with your insurance . Many clinics, including Thrive Wellness, can help you understand your benefits and advocate to your insurance provider on your behalf so you can get the most out of your plan.

6. Consider whether specific characteristics of your provider matter to you.

The provider-client relationship requires a certain level of trust as clients share highly personal details and receive therapeutic guidance on crucial aspects of their life. If you feel you’d be more comfortable working with a mental or behavioral health professional of a certain gender, age, culture, or sexual orientation, then make sure to follow your inner guidance and adjust your provider search as necessary.

7. Be open and honest with your provider.

You’re the expert on your life and your experiences are unique to you. Let your provider know if an aspect of the process isn’t sitting well with you. Many mental and behavioral health professionals will attempt to adjust their approach in response, or they may refer you to another professional with more training and experience in a certain area.

8. Know that you are not stuck with your chosen provider.

If you feel like your relationship with your provider isn’t a good fit, you have every right to “break up” with your therapist. Keep in mind, though, the first session is usually intended for gathering information, so consider attending a few appointments to gauge whether you have a productive connection with your provider before exploring other options.

Even so, just as you’re not relaxed and trusting with every person, you’re not going to feel connected with every provider. Don’t let a less-than-ideal provider-client relationship keep you from seeking the clinical treatment you deserve.

9. Accept that therapy may be uncomfortable and challenging at times.

During therapy, you’ll dive into distressing matters, a pursuit that can exacerbate your symptoms. Furthermore, your provider will likely encourage you to turn away from any unhealthy coping strategies and replace them with healthy ones, requiring major behavioral shifts. As you process painful experiences, change self-destructive behavior patterns , and take steps toward personal growth, it’s natural to experience some level of discomfort. You will most likely feel worse before you feel better, but know that is the natural course of healing.

THRIVE HERE

At Thrive Wellness, we wholeheartedly believe that you deserve to receive treatment that enriches your entire being. We can connect with you with compassionate, effective mental and behavioral health care based on your specific concerns, personal preferences, and values. Reach out to learn more about our services and providers.

About the Author

Thrive Wellness Reno Clinical Director and Therapist Kerstin Trachok, CPC

Kerstin received her master’s degrees in clinical mental health counseling and school counseling from the University of Nevada, Reno. Kerstin has seven years of experience in the counseling field working in different settings and a wide array of mental health issues. Kerstin has experience working in schools with children of all ages, clients with psychosis in a hospital setting, adults and teens in private practice, and working at an agency providing counseling to children and families, and two years of experience working with Eating Disorders at the PHP and IOP levels of care. Kerstin is a fully licensed clinical professional counselor in the state of Nevada and received her certification in Complex Trauma Levels I and II. Kerstin has experience working with children, teens, adults, and families with trauma, anxiety, grief, depression, ADHD, autism spectrum, suicidal ideation, and behavioral issues. Kerstin is passionate about fostering clients’ growth and autonomy while providing a safe and secure space to process emotions. Kerstin uses creative interventions and other tools to allow clients to voice their internal experiences beyond traditional talk therapy. Kerstin’s theoretical approach is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. She uses mindfulness tools and techniques to help clients be present-moment oriented, and reduce stress so they may move towards psychological flexibility. Kerstin believes all individuals have the right to live a fulfilling and vital life.

The post Nine Tips For Finding a Mental or Behavioral Health Professional That’s a Fit first appeared on Thrive Wellness.

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Your Guide to Higher Levels of Care: How to Decide Which Treatment Level is Right for Your Mental Health

By Erin McGinty Fort, MS, MHA, CPC, LPC-S, CEDS-C • December 18, 2025

Sometimes, people need more support, structure, and monitoring than the typical outpatient setting can provide. When this happens, the treatment team will usually recommend that someone be "stepped up" to a different level of care, or program, that can better meet their needs. I like to think of it as being similar to medication dosages; people need different strengths of medications, or dosages, to get better when they're sick. Stepping someone up to a higher level of care is like increasing the dosage of a medication to match the severity of their symptoms. How Are Higher Levels of Care Different from Standard Outpatient Care? At the core of differentiating higher levels of care from standard outpatient care is the intensity and structure of the treatment. Higher level of care programs tend to offer more days of treatment each week and more hours of treatment per day than in the outpatient setting. Those in higher level of care programs may also meet with their treatment team members more frequently each week. There are more staff present to support someone at or after meals and snacks, or to help those who are having urges to engage in compulsions or other harmful behaviors. Clients in our HLOC programs get access to an assortment of treatment modalities tailored to their individual needs, including personalized therapy sessions, group support, medication management, medical nutrition therapy with a dietitian, and check-ins with our primary care providers. We support clients with personalized treatment plans and regular assessments to monitor and tweak interventions as needed. Higher levels of care also offer increased peer interaction and support. Intensive programs incorporate additional group therapy sessions, which can help those in treatment feel less alone as well as create a greater sense of community. For some people, it can be difficult to devote the time and energy needed to recover while also balancing other responsibilities like school or work. Stepping up to more intensive levels of care allows people to fully dedicate themselves to recovery. As they get better and make progress, a person may be stepped back down to a less intensive level of care to start practicing their recovery in their usual home, school, or work settings while also receiving professional support from their treatment team. What Levels of Care are Available? At Thrive Wellness, we offer four different levels of care to help clients step up (or down) in their treatment when needed: - Outpatient Treatment - weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly meetings with a therapist, psychiatrist, primary care provider, and/or dietitian. - Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) - A minimum of three hours per day, three days per week. - Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) - A minimum of six hours per day, five days per week. - Residential Treatment - Coming soon in 2026, The Greenhouse at Thrive will offer residential treatment for eating disorders, anxiety disorders, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. This level of care offers 24-hour support for those aged 12-24 living in our residential treatment center. How To Decide Which Level of Care is Right for You If you're unsure which option is right for you or your loved one, we offer a free assessment that can be completed with our admissions team. In this initial assessment, we'll gather information from you about what you're struggling with, speak with our team of providers, and then make a recommendation for what level of care we feel is the best fit for you and your needs. If you’re experiencing symptoms of an eating disorder, anxiety disorder, or other behavioral or mental health challenges, don’t hesitate to reach out. To get started with our intake process, give us a call at 775-525-8103 or fill out this form . We can’t wait to help you Thrive.

Family Inclusive Recovery: Healing Together in Eating Disorder and OCD Treatment

December 2, 2025

Like the fir tree, a symbol of endurance rooted in hope, our Family Inclusive Recovery (FIR) approach reflects the strength that grows when families face challenges together. At our new residential center “The Greenhouse”, FIR is more than a treatment model, it’s a philosophy of healing that places families at the heart of recovery for adolescents and young adults navigating eating disorders, anxiety disorders, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). We believe lasting healing doesn’t happen in isolation; it’s built with the support of families through perseverance, hope, and compassionate care. What Is Family Inclusive Recovery (FIR)? Family Intensive Recovery (FIR) is a specialized and immersive approach that actively engages caregivers as central agents in their child’s healing process. Rather than seeing families as contributors to a problem, we view them as essential partners in recovery. Drawing from two evidence-based frameworks, Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE) and Family-Based Treatment (FBT), FIR helps families cultivate resilience, confidence, and connection throughout the journey to recovery. Grounded in SPACE and FBT Through the SPACE model, parents learn how to recognize and reduce well-intentioned but unhelpful behaviors known as accommodations that can reinforce anxiety and OCD symptoms. By shifting from rescuing to supporting and challenging, parents develop the confidence to guide their child through discomfort, helping them build distress tolerance and self-trust. Simultaneously, Family-Based Treatment (FBT) empowers families to take an active, compassionate role in their child’s nutritional and emotional recovery. Parents learn how to support weight and nutritional restoration, disrupt the eating disorder’s patterns, and reestablish boundaries that promote health and growing autonomy. Together, these approaches strengthen both the individual and family system, allowing recovery to take root within an environment of empathy and optimism. From Blame to Collaboration A cornerstone of the FIR model is removing blame. At Thrive, parents are not viewed as the cause of their child’s struggles, but rather as key partners in recovery. Treatment focuses on joining forces to create a safe, supportive environment where: Families learn to sit with their child's discomfort alongside them without rushing to fix or control it. Parents practice compassionate firmness, setting boundaries grounded in care and safety. Teens and caregivers rebuild trust through open, honest communication. This collaborative framework helps families reestablish a sense of connection and confidence, fostering long-term resilience and open communication that extends beyond the treatment setting. Why Family Matters in Recovery Recovery from eating disorders, OCD, or anxiety isn’t a one-person job, it requires integrated care including the family. When families learn to navigate challenges together, they can model emotional regulation, reinforce healthy boundaries, and create conditions for sustained recovery. Through FIR, we aim to strengthen attachment bonds, reshape family interactions, and empower every member of the family to grow. The result is not only symptom reduction but also a deeper sense of unity, hope, and shared endurance, just like the steadfast fir tree that stands resilient through every season. Moving Toward Hope Family Inclusive Recovery invites caregivers and loved ones to become active participants in change. It’s a journey of learning, letting go, and leaning into love and acceptance. Together, families and clinicians can cultivate the courage in clients to face uncertainty, and in doing so, help them discover that recovery is not just possible, but enduring. If you’d like to learn more about Family Intensive Recovery at The Greenhouse or how we support families in eating disorder and OCD treatment, reach out to our team today.

Introducing Thrive's Greenhouse - Opening 2026

November 14, 2025

The Greenhouse at Thrive Wellness A New Chapter of Hope and Healing in Nevada On Friday, November 14 , we gathered with our partners at Molina Healthcare to share an important moment for our community. Together, we celebrated Molina’s generous $50,000 grant , an investment that is helping bring The Greenhouse to life. Their support is not only a financial contribution—it’s a statement of belief in the young people and families of Nevada who deserve access to compassionate, evidence-based mental healthcare close to home. This gathering marked the beginning of something we’ve dreamed about for years: a place designed specifically for adolescents and emerging adults to receive the care, connection, and support they need during some of the most vulnerable moments of their lives. Something New Is Growing In early 2026 , Thrive Wellness will open The Greenhouse , Nevada’s first residential treatment center devoted to adolescents and emerging adults navigating eating disorders, anxiety, and OCD . For too long, families have faced a heartbreaking dilemma—send their child far from home for treatment or go without the specialized care they need. The Greenhouse is our answer to that gap. It will be a place where young people can settle into an environment built for healing, where they are understood, supported, and surrounded by a team that believes in their capacity to recover. The Greenhouse represents a natural extension of our mission. It’s a living expression of our belief that recovery is possible—and that with the right support, families can find their footing again.