Our Behavioral Health Team

Our mental and emotional health staff is specially trained to care for complex mental health disorders, such as depression, anxiety and addiction.

We share the goal of helping you regain control of your life and want to help you reconnect with your family, friends and community. Our team includes professionals with diverse backgrounds to support you during treatment and recovery.

Primary care providers

Primary care providers coordinate overall health care. As part of your annual wellness check, your doctor has an important role in identifying and treating mental conditions. We follow the guidelines of the President’s Commission on Mental Health, which state that primary care providers should:

• Screen patients for mental health issues
• Provide care to people who have mild or moderate conditions, or stable patients who have severe conditions
• Work closely with mental health specialists to care for patients with complex conditions and multiple medications

If a primary care provider cannot offer the level of care you need, they can refer you to a mental health professional.

State licensed professionals

There are two licensed professionals who specialize in helping patients address mental health and emotional concerns.

• Psychiatrist – A psychiatrist is a medical doctor with at least four years of specialized study and training in psychiatry after medical school. Psychiatrists can provide medical and psychiatric evaluations, treat disorders, provide psychotherapy and prescribe and monitor medicines.
• Psychologist – A psychologist has a master's degree in psychology or a doctoral degree in clinical, educational, counseling or research psychology. Psychologists treat emotional, mental and behavioral problems and provide psychotherapy and behavior modification.

Care team members

• Certified alcohol and drug abuse counselor – These care providers undergo specific clinical training in alcohol and drug abuse. They often are able to offer diagnoses and provide individual and group counseling.
• Clinical social worker – These providers are trained and licensed to practice social work. They diagnose, assess and treat psychiatric illnesses and provide psychotherapy. Clinical social workers often work in hospitals. They’re trained to provide individual and group counseling, and they support case management and advocacy.
• Licensed professional counselor – Counselors have advanced degrees in psychology or counseling and have completed postgraduate work. Counselors may provide services that include diagnosis.
• Mental health nurse – These nurses are specially trained to assess and treat illnesses and provide case management and psychotherapy.

Additional support resources

• Pastoral counseling – Many people find comfort in religion. Your place of worship may be able to connect you with a certified pastoral counselor. These counselors are ministers who serve in a recognized religious body and have advanced degrees in counseling or professional counseling experience.
• Peer specialist – A peer specialist has life-experience with mental health or addiction conditions. Their goal is to assist you with recovery by recognizing and developing your strengths and helping you set personal goals. Peer specialists undergo training that makes them uniquely qualified to serve in this role.
• Self-help groups – A popular option is to join a self-help or support group. This support system allows you to learn about, talk about and work on situations and problems such as alcoholism, addiction, depression, family issues or personal relationships with others who have overcome or are on the road to recovery. Many of these programs are anonymous for attendees.