Depression: Finding a Doctor or Therapist

To get better, you need expert help. Many people with depression have a team working with them. This might include your regular health care provider, a therapist, and a psychiatrist or psychiatric nurse.

But getting the right people may seem intimidating. Here are some answers to common questions about finding a doctor or therapist.

• What kind of expert do I need to see? People with depression often see a few different experts. You might see a therapist as well as a doctor or nurse for medicine.
  
  
• Why can't I just see one doctor? Only doctors — such as psychiatrists — and some nurses can prescribe medicines for depression. Your regular doctor can too, but he or she might prefer that you see an expert.
  
  Therapists tend to be psychologists, social workers, or counselors. There can be some overlap. For instance, some psychiatrists and psychiatric nurses might also do therapy.
  
  But often, psychiatrists and psychiatric nurses focus on treating depression with medicine. Psychologists, social workers, and counselors treat depression with therapy.
  
  Many people benefit from the combination of medicine and therapy. Some studies show that this two-pronged approach may work better than either treatment on its own.
  
  
• How do I find a therapist? Ask your health care provider for a recommendation. You can also get in touch with organizations such as NAMI, the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, which can suggest experts in your area.
  
  Keep in mind that anyone can call himself or herself a "therapist." Your therapist should be a licensed psychiatrist, psychologist, social worker, psychiatric nurse, or counselor.
  
  
• What should I look for? Therapists use many different approaches. Some focus on practical, here-and-now issues. Others go deeper, probing events from your past that might have played a role in your depression. Many therapists use a mix of styles. Shop around. When you first talk to a potential therapist, ask about his or her approach. See if it's a good fit.
  
  Finding a treatment approach that suits you is important. But it's even more important to find a therapist whom you trust and like. If you don't click with the person, therapy is less likely to help.
  
  You may also want to look for someone who specializes in your particular problem. For instance, if you have a substance abuse problem, find a therapist who specializes in treating people struggling with addiction.
  
  
• What if treatment doesn't help? Once you've settled on a therapist or doctor, you need to give therapy or medication a chance to work. It's not enough to only try treatment for a few weeks. Getting better takes more time than that.
  
  Therapy can be hard at first. Opening up to someone about very personal things in your life isn't easy. But stick with treatment for a few months. If you still feel as though your therapist or doctor isn't helping by then, think about seeing someone new.