What are the types of mental health professionals?

There are many types of health professionals working in mental health care.

Most mental health professionals study and train for many years. They all have different skills to support you. These can include:

• diagnosing mental health conditions
• treating mental health problems using different types of psychotherapy and counselling
• prescribing medicines
• educating you about your condition
• organising care for people who have complex mental health needs

Mental health nurses

Mental health nurses have a specialist qualification in mental health. They can help people recover from mental health issues. They often work with other mental health professionals.

Psychologists

Psychologists provide diagnosis and treatment of mental health problems with psychotherapy (talking therapies). They are not medical doctors and can't prescribe medicines.

Psychiatrists

Psychiatrists are medical doctors who have completed specialised training in mental health. They can diagnose and treat mental illness both with psychotherapy and medicines.

Counsellors

Counsellors are therapists who can talk with you about social and emotional challenges in your life. They can help you develop problem-solving skills.

Occupational therapists

Occupational therapists (OTs) help people with mental health problems to be more independent and develop coping strategies for their everyday life. They can also support the mental health of people who:

• have a disability
• have a chronic illness
• need rehabilitation, such as after an accident

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mental health workers

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mental health workers deliver care in a culturally appropriate way. They may also provide cultural education to people outside the community.

Social workers

Social workers are professionals trained in assessment and treatment of mental health issues. They can help people who have mental health problems manage practical and social challenges like:

• housing
• employment
• relationships

How do I find a mental health professional?

Your doctor is usually the first point of contact if you need help with your mental health. Your doctor is also known as a general practitioner or GP. General practitioners can diagnose and treat some mental health disorders.

They can:

• assess your mental health
• work with you to build a mental health treatment plan
• give you advice
• refer you to another mental health professional if needed, based on your situation

Depending on their training and experience, your doctor may also be able to treat you themselves.

You need a referral from your doctor to see some health professionals such as psychiatrists.

If you live in a rural or remote area, you may not have access to all the different types of mental health professionals. Talk to your doctor about whether online programs or therapies might help you. There are many mental health resources available online or over the phone. Many of these involve contact with a mental health professional.

FIND A HEALTH SERVICE — The Service Finder can help you find doctors, pharmacies, hospitals and other health services.

How do I choose a mental health professional?

It is important to choose the right mental health professional. Having a good relationship with them can help you get the most out of your treatment.

Choose a professional who makes you feel comfortable and meets your needs.

When choosing a mental health professional, there are some things to consider, like:

• if the health professional can help you with your specific situation
• how much treatment will cost
• if you need a referral
• how often you will need appointments
• if the health professional is available on days and times that work for you
• what the mental health professional's personality and style of therapy is like
• what qualifications the health professional has

You can ask your mental health care professional about these things.

ASK YOUR DOCTOR — Preparing for an appointment? Use the Question Builder for general tips on what to ask your GP or specialist.

What qualifications should a mental health professional have?

Most types of health professionals must be registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Registration Agency (AHPRA). You can check if a health professional requires registration and is registered.

Counsellors and psychotherapists need to complete study and appropriate training to practise in Australia. There are professional bodies in Australia for counsellors and psychotherapists. These bodies make sure their members have all required qualifications to show that they have skills in mental health care. These bodies include the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia and the Australian Counselling Association.

What can I expect when I visit a mental health professional?

At your first visit with a mental health professional, they will want to learn about your symptoms and why you made the appointment. They may ask about:

• what support you would like
• what you would like to achieve
• your medical history, such as if you or anyone in your family has a history of mental health issues

They will also ask questions about:

• your relationship with your family and friends
• your stress levels and any specific stressful events in your past
• your feelings about your job and your relationships
• whether you use drugs
• if you drink alcohol
• the risk of you harming yourself or others
• whether you have any other health conditions

It is important to be open and honest with your mental health professional, so they can provide the best care for you.

At the end of your visit, your health professional may:

• make a diagnosis
• work with you to plan the next steps of your treatment
• suggest you see another type of healthcare professional or someone who specialises in a particular area

Will my information be kept confidential?

Most conversations with a mental health professional are confidential and protected by law in Australia, unless:

• you are at risk of harm
• there is a risk you may harm others
• they involve a serious crime, such as murder, drug-dealing or sexual assault

If you are concerned about confidentiality, ask your practitioner at the start of your appointment.

What if I need to change my mental health professional?

If you decide that your mental health professional is not right for you, that is OK.

You may have to meet a few health care professionals before you find the right person for you. Even within the same profession, different individuals may have different:

• skills
• styles
• specialties
• personalities
• appointment times and locations

As you receive care, you may learn more about what works best for you. You may also learn that you need support for a new issue that you hadn't thought about.

It's a good idea to talk to the person you're seeing first before changing to another mental health professional. If the time or place is an issue, they might be able to change the appointment times or move the appointments to a different location.

If you decide to change, you can ask your current mental health professional or your doctor to recommend other options that suit your needs. You can also ask your current health professional to transfer your medical notes to your new health professional. This will help your new health professional understand you better and it will make the change easier.

If you change to a new mental health professional, you may need a new referral from your doctor.

It is OK if the first mental health professional you try doesn't work out. If they aren't the right fit for you, it is worth looking at other options so you can get the best support.

What does it cost to see a mental health professional?

The cost of seeing a health professional depends on the type of health professional you see. Medicare may cover some or all the costs for mental health services. Even if you don't need a referral to see a mental health professional like a psychiatrist, you may need a referral to get a Medicare rebate.

If you have a diagnosed mental illness, your doctor can provide you with a mental health treatment plan. This provides a Medicare rebate for up to 10 individual and 10 group sessions each calendar year with some mental health specialists.

If a doctor or psychologist bulk bills, Medicare will cover the cost of the appointment.

If your doctor or psychologist does not bulk bill, you will need to pay the gap fee. It's a good idea to ask your doctor about billing when you make your first appointment.

Resources and support

For more information about mental health professionals and how to find someone suitable for you, speak with your doctor.

You can also:

• visit the ReachOut website for tips on choosing the right mental health professional
• visit the Beyond blue website for more information on mental health professionals and how to find one, or call on 1300 22 4636 for free and confidential counselling.
• Visit the Medicare Mental Health website for information on types of mental health professionals and how to prepare for your first appointment. Call them on 1800 595 212 to get connected to local mental health services.

Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people

If you are an Aboriginal and/or a Torres Strait Islander person, you can:

• visit the Wellmob website for resources on social emotional and cultural wellbeing
• call 13Yarn on 13 92 76 or visit the website for free and confidential mental health support
• visit Beyond blue for helpful contacts for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people

Languages other than English

If you speak a language other than English, you can visit the Embrace Multicultural Mental Health website for resources in multiple languages.

For information that is easy to read, you can visit headspace for a fact sheet on mental health. You can also visit the NSW Health website for fact sheets about getting help for mental health.

You can also call the healthdirect helpline on 1800 022 222 (known as NURSE-ON-CALL in Victoria). A registered nurse is available to speak with you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.