Mental health service

Mental health care is provided by several licensed professions, and each has a different scope. Check the license type, ask about fees and network status, and confirm what your plan pays.

In a crisis: call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, free and available 24 hours a day, or chat at 988lifeline.org. 988 also helps people who are worried about a family member or friend. If someone is in immediate danger, such as a suicide attempt in progress or a suspected overdose, call 911.

Credentials and how to verify them

• Psychiatrists are MDs or DOs. They can diagnose and prescribe medication.
• Psychologists in New York need a doctoral degree in psychology, two years of full-time supervised experience and a passing score on the EPPP Part 1 exam. New York licenses them under Education Law Article 153 (NYSED).
• Licensed clinical social workers (LCSWs) in New York need a master's degree in social work, at least three years of supervised experience after it and the ASWB Clinical exam. New York licenses social workers under Education Law Article 154 (NYSED).
• Licensed mental health counselors (LMHCs) in New York need a master's or doctorate in counseling, 3,000 hours of supervised experience and the NCMHCE exam (NYSED). They can't prescribe, and they can diagnose only if they hold the state's diagnostic privilege. NYSED issues the privilege, and it must be renewed every three years along with registration (NYSED).
• Titles to watch: "Therapist", "counselor" and "coach" on their own may not be protected titles. Ask which license the provider holds.

To verify a license, use the NYSED license verification search in New York. In New Jersey, psychologists, social workers, and marriage and family therapists each have their own board (professional counselors fall under the marriage and family therapy board), and all can be checked on the NJ License Verification System.

What it costs

Fees depend on the license type, session length and setting. We don't yet have a sourced range of New York City prices. Ask for the session fee, whether the provider offers a sliding scale, and whether they are in your plan's network.

Insurance, Medicare and HSA

• Private insurance: Ask whether the provider is in network. If not, ask for a superbill so you can claim out-of-network benefits; a superbill doesn't guarantee payment. In New York, a group health policy that covers mental health care from psychiatrists or psychologists must cover the same services from licensed clinical social workers, mental health counselors, marriage and family therapists and psychoanalysts, and group policies that cover hospital or physician care must also cover the diagnosis and treatment of mental health conditions (NY Insurance Law 3221). Individual plans and self-funded employer plans can differ, so check your plan.
• Medicare: Part B covers outpatient mental health care from psychiatrists, psychologists, clinical social workers, nurse practitioners and physician assistants. Since January 2024 it also covers marriage and family therapists and mental health counselors (medicare.gov).
• HSA and FSA: These accounts pay for medical care as IRS Publication 502 defines it: costs to diagnose, treat or prevent disease. Ask your plan administrator what records it needs for therapy sessions.

Last reviewed: October 2026.

Mental health services encompass the full spectrum of professional support for psychological, emotional, and behavioral wellbeing. They range from crisis intervention and inpatient psychiatric care at one end, to weekly therapy sessions, medication management, group support, and preventive wellness coaching at the other.

Despite affecting nearly 1 in 5 American adults in any given year — according to the National Institute of Mental Health — mental health conditions remain undertreated. Only about half of adults with mental illness receive treatment. Barriers include stigma, cost, insurance complexity, and confusion about which type of provider to see.

The landscape of mental health providers is genuinely complex. Multiple licensed professions — psychiatrists, psychologists, licensed clinical social workers, licensed professional counselors, marriage and family therapists — can provide mental health care, each with different training, scope, and therapeutic approach. Understanding the differences is the most important first step to finding the right support.

Mental health care has also expanded well beyond the traditional office visit. Teletherapy can make access easier and cheaper for some people. Group therapy, intensive outpatient programs (IOPs), peer support networks, and integrated behavioral health embedded in primary care practices are all part of the modern mental health ecosystem.

Mental health treatment works through several distinct and sometimes overlapping mechanisms depending on the modality.

Psychotherapy (Talk Therapy)

Psychotherapy encompasses dozens of evidence-based approaches, each with different mechanisms and target conditions:

Psychiatric Medication

Psychiatrists are medical doctors who can diagnose and prescribe medication for mental health conditions. Medication is thought to work by modulating neurotransmitter systems — serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, GABA — to reduce symptoms, though the mechanisms are not fully understood. Medication is often most effective in combination with psychotherapy, particularly for moderate-to-severe depression, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, and psychosis.

Integrative and Complementary Approaches

A growing body of evidence supports the role of lifestyle and complementary interventions in mental health:

• Exercise — Some trials show aerobic exercise about as effective as antidepressants for mild-to-moderate depression, though the evidence is mixed
• Nutritional psychiatry — Emerging evidence links gut microbiome health, omega-3 deficiency, and micronutrient status to depression and anxiety; these are associations, not proof of cause
• Mindfulness-based interventions — MBCT has moderate evidence for preventing depression relapse, and MBSR is widely used for stress and anxiety
• Acupuncture — Evidence for anxiety is limited and low quality (NCCIH)

Key Insight: Some trials suggest that the combination of psychotherapy and medication outperforms either alone for moderate-to-severe depression and anxiety. And one of the strongest predictors of therapy outcomes is the therapeutic alliance: how safe, understood, and connected you feel with your therapist. Don't underestimate the importance of finding the right person.

Mental health services address the full range of psychological and behavioral health conditions — from everyday stress and life transitions to severe and persistent mental illness.

Mood Disorders

• Anxiety — One of the most common mental health conditions in the US; highly responsive to CBT, ACT, and medication when indicated.
• Depression — Responds well to psychotherapy (particularly CBT and behavioral activation), medication, exercise, and — for treatment-resistant cases — newer interventions like ketamine therapy and TMS.

Trauma and Stress

• PTSD and complex trauma — Trauma-focused CBT, prolonged exposure, and EMDR are the trauma therapies recommended in clinical guidelines; somatic therapy has less evidence.
• Acute stress, grief, and life transitions — Supportive therapy, grief counseling, and adjustment-focused interventions.

Sleep and Physical Health Interface

• Insomnia — Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBTi) is the first-line, most effective treatment for chronic insomnia — more effective than sleeping medication long-term.
• Chronic Pain — Psychological approaches to pain, including ACT and pain-focused CBT, can reduce pain-related disability.

Relationship and Identity

• Relationship difficulties, communication breakdown, and couples conflict — addressed by marriage and family therapists and couples-focused psychologists.
• LGBTQ+ identity and affirming care — specialist providers offer culturally competent support.
• Life transitions, existential concerns, and personal growth — not all therapy is for illness; much of it is for becoming who you want to be.

Severe and Persistent Mental Illness

• Bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and psychotic disorders — typically require psychiatric medication management alongside psychosocial support.
• Autoimmune Conditions — The psychological burden of chronic illness warrants mental health support as a standard component of whole-person care.

Before You Arrive

If possible, think through what you most want help with — not a clinical diagnosis, but your own description of what's been difficult and what you're hoping changes. Write it down if that helps. For psychiatry visits, compile a complete list of current medications and any prior psychiatric history.

For therapy, there is no need to prepare a polished account. Your therapist's job is to help you articulate what's happening — you don't need to arrive with answers, only your honest experience.

The First Session

The first therapy session is primarily an assessment — getting to know you, your history, and your goals. Your therapist will ask questions about what brought you in, relevant background, and what you're hoping to achieve. Many clients feel emotional simply from being heard without judgment for the first time. This is normal and often therapeutic in itself.

In psychiatry, the first visit involves a comprehensive diagnostic interview — covering symptom history, family psychiatric history, prior treatments, and current functioning — which informs a diagnosis and treatment recommendations.

Finding the Right Fit

Not every therapist is the right therapist for every person. A common rule of thumb: if after 2–3 sessions you don't feel a sense of connection, safety, or that the approach is working for you, it is entirely appropriate — and advisable — to try someone else. Good therapists expect and support this. The therapeutic relationship is the treatment; fit matters enormously.

What Most People Miss: Therapy is work, not passive reception. The sessions where you feel most uncomfortable, most challenged, or most like avoiding are often the most clinically significant. Progress in therapy rarely feels comfortable in real time — it tends to feel clear only in retrospect.

Understanding Provider Types

Key Considerations

• Medication needed? → Psychiatrist or psychiatric NP
• Trauma history? → Look for EMDR certification or trauma-focused training
• Couples or family issues? → Certified MFT or couples-specialist psychologist
• Child or adolescent? → Specialist in child/adolescent mental health
• Eating disorder? → Eating disorder specialist team (therapist + dietitian + medical provider)

Verify Credentials

All licensed mental health providers should hold an active state license. Verify through your state's licensing board. For psychologists, look for APA-accredited doctoral training. For psychiatrists, look for American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN) board certification.

Questions to Ask

• What modalities do you use and what is your therapeutic orientation?
• Do you have experience treating my specific concerns?
• What does your typical treatment structure look like?
• How do you measure progress?
• What is your availability and cancellation policy?

Find a mental health provider near you: Browse our mental health directory and filter by specialty, insurance, and provider type.

• Mental Health and Wellness — Broader wellness approaches that complement formal mental health treatment.
• Acupuncture — Sometimes used alongside mental health care; the evidence for anxiety is limited.
• Naturopathic Medicine — Nutritional psychiatry, adaptogenic herbs, and nervous system support.
• Functional Medicine — Gut-brain axis assessment, neurotransmitter support, and metabolic contributors to mood disorders.
• Massage Therapy — May ease anxiety as a complement to mental health care.
• Wellness Centers — Many wellness centers integrate mental health support with physical and lifestyle programming.