Are you considering seeking mental healthcare in the D.C. area? If so, you have likely realized that you have a plethora of options. How do you pick? How do you know if therapy is the right fit for your situation? What can you expect during your first appointment? Being able to answer these questions will build your confidence as you approach your own well-being.
Mental health care in D.C. can help with a variety of challenges, and people of all types can benefit. Whether you are currently experiencing symptoms that are interfering with your life or you want to learn more about yourself and develop skills you wish you had, mental wellness services can be a valuable resource. Here are the basics to get you started, including the types of programs and therapy.
Key Takeaways
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Why Try Mental Health Services in Washington, D.C.?
The D.C. area is lively and busy, meaning you likely have numerous options for mental healthcare in your area. If you are still unsure whether you should give therapy a try, there are a few reasons you should consider.
- Therapy teaches skills: Even if you are not currently dealing with symptoms of mental health challenges, such as anxiety, therapy still teaches skills that you can use in everyday life, such as stress management and thought reframing.
- Therapy is safe: Simply being able to talk about something in a supportive environment can provide emotional catharsis and help you stay focused and able to process your situation. A therapist’s office is a safe place to do so.
- Therapy is a resource: If you do need help, your therapist is on your side. They can advise you on anything from methods for emotional regulation to resources within your community that can provide assistance outside the therapist’s office.
Types of Mental Health Services in D.C.
Mental health clinics in D.C. offer a variety of treatment targets. If you are at the stage of your treatment journey in which you are considering where to go for mental healthcare, start by evaluating the three main options:
Inpatient mental health treatment
An inpatient treatment center that provides mental health care welcomes patients to live at the facility. Stays can range from a few days to weeks or more depending on the person’s needs. Commonly, inpatient treatment is used to address significant or emergent mental health crises, such as an imminent risk of self-harm.
While in an inpatient treatment center, you can expect 24/7 care from a team committed to positive outcomes. They want to see you succeed, and you should never feel ashamed or nervous about seeking inpatient care. For many, it is a powerful first step toward long-term mental wellness.
Outpatient mental healthcare
A large portion of adults who seek professional help for their mental well-being do so through outpatient care. This includes therapists or temporary programs. In any type of outpatient program, you will not stay on-site. Rather, you attend scheduled appointments with a mental healthcare provider at a time you have agreed upon.
As noted previously, individual therapy is the form that outpatient care usually takes. The frequency of your appointments may vary depending upon your goals, current symptoms, availability, logistics, and more. Some people might attend two to three times per week, others once per week, and others once a month. This is something that you work directly with your therapist to establish. Telehealth appointments conducted via video or phone call can make therapy more accessible for people who might not otherwise be able to maintain their desired frequency due to accessibility or scheduling concerns.
Group therapy
For some individuals, working alone with a therapist is not as appealing as working in a group. Group therapy brings adults together, often with similar histories or experiences, to work through those challenges. For example, grief therapy is one of the most common types of group therapy, as it allows many people to come together and share their personal stories. Hearing these experiences can help others in the group feel less alone or learn new ways to cope and heal.
Rest assured that while group therapy involves a significant collaborative and communal approach, it is supervised and guided by a mental health professional. It is not the same as a casual meet-up.
Options for Therapy and Behavioral Health Services in D.C.
Therapists are not a monolith; they approach mental health care in targeted ways based upon their own experience, patient goals, and more. Some people benefit from talk therapy. Others find art therapy more useful, while still others may find that treatments incorporating eye movements produce the best results. Part of choosing the right therapist for your situation is becoming familiar with some of the most common types of therapy approaches.
CBT
CBT, or cognitive behavioral therapy, is a type of treatment that primarily focuses on challenging and altering thought processes. Those who participate in CBT learn, over time, how to identify what they are thinking and why. From there, they can challenge unhelpful behaviors and thought patterns, reframing them to serve their long-term goals.
For example, suppose that you say hello to your boss in the hallway, and they do not respond. You might fear that your boss is angry at you or could even fire you. CBT would encourage you to identify this thought as catastrophizing. Then, you would consider alternative reasons your boss might not have answered. Did they have earbuds in? Were they distracted? Did you speak quietly enough that you could not be heard over background noise? Reframing your thoughts helps you to stabilize your emotions.
DBT
Dialectical behavior therapy, or DBT, is similar to CBT in many ways, but it is more commonly used for those who have difficulty regulating their emotions. It focuses on mindfulness (grounding yourself in the present moment), increasing your tolerance for stressful situations, developing your ability to manage your reactions, and working on communication.
For instance, your therapist will likely encourage you to stop labeling emotions as “good” or “bad”; rather, they “make sense” within the current circumstances. This helps to reduce guilt and shame. Many DBT therapists encourage individuals to do the opposite: that is, if you feel that you would like to isolate yourself, do the opposite and go for a walk in public. This can help adjust your brain’s expectations and regulate your emotions over time.
EMDR
Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, or EMDR, is especially useful for individuals who have experienced trauma. Your therapist will ask you to discuss your memories, but with an important distinction: you will be moving your eyes (e.g., side to side) as you talk. This requires using both hemispheres of the brain and offers some distraction from the memories, both of which help your brain process them more effectively and catalog them properly, so that the traumatic recollections do not negatively impact your life to the same degree as before.
Tips to Start and Maintain a Successful Treatment Journey
Ready to try adult mental health services and see the difference they can make? Before you start, try these tips to set you up for success.
Think about your goals
Determining why you want to seek treatment is a great first step that will help you locate the care that is right for you. Are you currently experiencing symptoms and would like relief? Are you interested in discovering more about coping strategies that could help you in your everyday life? Try to write down at least one goal or concern that you would like to bring up.
Identify your challenges
Now that you have an idea of your most pressing needs or interests, it can be helpful to identify what is preventing you from accomplishing that goal. Do you wish you managed your emotions more consistently, but you work a high-stress job where anger is easy? Try keeping a journal or taking notes about the main challenges you see in your daily life.
Find a matching therapist
Once you understand your goals and challenges, you have a strong foundation for searching for a therapist. Therapists often specialize in certain areas; match your notes with a therapist’s area of specialty (e.g., anxiety, family therapy, trauma) for personalized results.
Be honest
Once you begin attending therapy, you might find that you encounter situations or topics that you are not eager to discuss. It is important that you are completely honest with your therapist. Honesty gives them accurate insight into your situation, which is the most effective way of creating a strategy to help you live the life you want.
Stay consistent
Once you are set up with a therapist, remember to attend on schedule. A single therapy session is not likely sufficient; therapy works best when it is incorporated as a regular, consistent part of your life.
Assess as needed
You might not feel connected to the first therapist you try. From time to time, consider whether you are getting what you want out of therapy. Switching therapists is common; you do not need to feel beholden to a certain provider!
See the Benefits of Adult Mental Health Services in Your Life
Seeking treatment for your own mental well-being is one part of supporting your overall wellness, and D.C. mental health providers can help. If you need to find a therapist in the D.C. area, contact Aquila Recovery Clinic. Our team helps people in a wide range of situations, and we will create a personalized approach to help you work toward your goals.