Finding an Off-Campus Mental Health Provider
Please use this information to help find an off-campus mental healthcare provider. Make sure to take notes when you are speaking with potential providers and/or office administrators.
1. Find a Mental Healthcare Provider
Websites that can be used to search for potential mental health professionals allow you to filter by insurance, location, and mental health concern. Use the filters to narrow down your search! You can also contact your insurance to ask for a list of providers in your insurance network. The following sites can help with your search:
2. Confirm Availability
Contact the provider, or the provider’s office, to learn if they are accepting new clients. Example: “I am interested in establishing services with one of your providers, are they accepting new clients at this time?”
3. Confirm Insurance Coverage
When you contact the provider, ask if they are in-network and request that they do an “insurance check.” Example: “I would like to confirm that the provider is in-network with my insurance, I have [Name of Your Insurance]. Is this in-network with your practice? Can you do an insurance check?”
While licensed mental health providers are typically confidential, please note that if you are a dependent on an insurance plan, the primary insurance holder will be able to see the types of visits for which insurance will be billed.
4. Schedule a Consultation
Many therapists will offer a free brief phone consultation. During this time you can:
- Ask about their approach to therapy.
- Ask them to clarify certain terms/phrases.
- Ask them about the types of clients they like to work with. Share with them your particular areas of concern.
5. Ready to Move Forward
Once you are ready to schedule a session, make sure to confirm the following:
- Are there forms to fill out before your session?
- What is the cancellation policy? What is the payment method/due date?
- What is the date, time, location of session?
Confused About Insurance?
You can usually find the customer support/concierge/member benefits phone number on the back of your insurance card. Call this number to speak with someone regarding your behavioral health benefits. You may ask about the following:
Ask what type of providers (psychiatrists, psychologists, licensed therapist, etc.). Ask for a list of providers who take your insurance.
Most policies have deductibles, which is the amount you will have to pay out of your own pocket for services before the insurance coverage begins. You can also ask about your out-of-network deductible, and if there is a process for connecting with out-of-network providers.
This is the amount that you will pay once you have met your deductible. It may be different depending on whether the provider is in-network or out-of-network.
Some policies have session limits, where the policy will cover up to a set number of sessions. Policies sometimes have a limit on the total amount of dollars that they will pay towards outpatient behavioral health appointments. Once this amount is met, you may not have coverage until your policy renews for the next year.
This guide to paying for therapy tells you what you need to know to find a provider who fits your budget and treatment needs, whether you plan to use insurance or pay out of pocket (or you haven’t gotten that far yet).