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: 

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.

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When Emma was 8, her parents noticed her food choices shrinking. At first, they assumed it was just picky eating — “She’ll outgrow it,” friends said. But by 10, Emma would only eat crackers, cheese, and chicken nuggets. Family dinners became nightly struggles, her growth slowed, and she skipped birthday parties to avoid “strange food.” Her parents felt powerless, her brother grew frustrated, and outings dwindled. What began as food avoidance soon reshaped the rhythm of the entire household. When children avoid food, most parents expect it’s a passing stage. But when restriction deepens, shrinks to only a few “safe foods,” and begins affecting growth or health, families suddenly find themselves in unfamiliar territory. This is often where Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) emerges — with effects that extend far beyond the plate. As providers, we need to be attuned to these patterns. It’s tempting to dismiss them as “no big deal,” yet for many families, they are life-altering. Sadly, Emma’s story is not unusual. Mealtimes as Battlegrounds Families living with ARFID often describe mealtimes as emotionally charged, exhausting, and unpredictable. What should be a chance to connect around the table can feel more like a negotiation or even a standoff. Parents wrestle with whether to push their child to try a new food or give in to the same “safe foods” again and again to avoid tears, gagging, or complete meltdowns. This ongoing tension can make mealtimes dreaded rather than cherished. Siblings, too, are affected. Some may feel resentful when family meals are limited to what only one child will tolerate. Others may act out in response to the constant attention the child with ARFID receives. Over time, the dinner table shifts from a place of nourishment and bonding into a stage for conflict, anxiety, and guilt — a pattern that can erode family cohesion and resilience. Social Isolation and Missed Experiences ARFID impacts more than what happens at home; it influences how families engage with the world around them. Everyday events — birthday parties, school lunches, vacations, even extended family dinners — become sources of stress. Parents may pack special foods to avoid confrontation or, in many cases, decline invitations altogether to protect their child from embarrassment or overwhelm. This avoidance can lead to an unintended consequence: isolation. Families miss out on milestones, friendships, and traditions because of the unpredictability surrounding food. The child may feel left out or ashamed, while parents grieve the loss of “normal” family experiences. This social withdrawal can compound the anxiety already present in ARFID and deepen its impact across generations. Emotional Toll on Parents The emotional strain on parents navigating ARFID is significant. Many describe living in a constant state of worry — Will my child get enough nutrients? Will they ever grow out of this? Am I doing something wrong? This worry often spirals into guilt and self-blame, particularly when outside voices dismiss the disorder as mere “picky eating.” In addition, the pressure to “fix” mealtimes can strain marital relationships, creating disagreements over discipline, feeding strategies, or medical decisions. Parents may also feel emotionally depleted, pouring all their energy into managing one child’s needs while inadvertently neglecting themselves or their other children. Without support, this chronic stress can lead to burnout, depression, and disconnection within the family system. The Role of Providers For clinicians, ARFID must be viewed not only as an individual diagnosis but as a family-wide challenge. Effective care requires attention to both the clinical symptoms and the family dynamics that shape recovery. 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By addressing both the psychological and relational dimensions, providers can help transform mealtimes from a source of conflict into an opportunity for healing and connection. For those who want to go deeper, we invite you to join our upcoming training on ARFID , where we will explore practical strategies for supporting both clients and their families.
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