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Finding the best mental health treatment for you or a loved one can be extremely daunting and overwhelming. Our actionable guide takes the to 15 questions you may need to ask when looking for the right mental health treatment program to meet your needs.

At Peachtree Wellness Solutions, our transparent and compassionate residential mental health treatment in Atlanta, Georgia can help you or a loved one find the strength needed to heal. Call us now at 770-202-1274 or verify your insurance today.

15 Questions to Ask Mental Health Treatment Programs

You should never hesitate to ask questions about any aspect of a program that you are considering. Any reputable treatment center should be happy to provide you with the details you need.

To give you an idea of the types of information that can be most helpful, here are 15 questions to ask mental health treatment programs before you make your final decision:

1. What Levels of Care Does the Program Offer?

Centers that offer multiple levels of care have a range of choices when determining which type of programming will be best for you. This reduces the likelihood that you will be squeezed into a “one-size-fits-all” approach. 

Also, centers with multiple levels of care provide you with the opportunity to receive step-down support after you’ve completed residential treatment such as Partial Hospitalization Programming or Intensive Outpatient Programming.

2. What Types of Treatment Does the Program Provide?

Inquiring about types of treatment can be one of the most important questions to ask mental health programs that you are considering. For example, does the program rely solely on more established therapies such as cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectical behavior therapy, or do they also offer emerging evidence-based options such as genetic testing and biosound therapy?

There’s no such thing as a perfect course of mental health treatment that works for everyone, so you should focus your attention on finding the program whose services and overall treatment approach align with your needs, goals, and preferences. 

3. Is the Program Licensed and/or Accredited?

Licensure and accreditation are two ways to demonstrate that a mental health treatment program adheres to all relevant regulations and meets the standards that have been established for this profession. 

When a program is licensed and/or accredited, you know that they have been reviewed by a disinterested third-party organization and found to be worthy of their seal of approval.

4. What are The Qualifications of the Program’s Treatment Professionals?

For treatment professionals, education, experience, and credentials function in somewhat the same way that licensure and accreditation do for treatment centers. In other words, they are a means of demonstrating competence and credibility. 

The quality of a program’s treatment providers will have a significant impact on your experience at the center. Don’t be afraid to ask about how well prepared they are to do the job you need them to do.

5. What Types of Safety Policies and Protocols has the Program Established?

Safety should be a top priority of any reputable mental health treatment program. Asking about safety policies and procedures is an excellent way of determining if a program is truly committed to protecting the well-being of all patients, staff, and visitors. 

6. How Will the Program Determine Which Services Are Best For You?

Every person who struggles with a mental health concern is impacted in a unique way. To be most effective, your care should be customized to reflect your specific history, needs, and goals. Make sure that any program you are considering can explain how, exactly, they will assess your needs and develop your individualized treatment plan.

7. Can the Program Help People Who Have Dual Diagnosis or Co-Occurring Conditions?

Dual diagnosis (having a mental illness and a co-occurring substance use disorder) and co-occurring conditions (having two or more mental health concerns) are far from uncommon. 

However, in many cases, patients aren’t even aware that they’ve been impacted by more than one disorder until they enter treatment. Be sure to select a program that is prepared to identify and address the full scope of your needs.

8. What Is a Typical Day Like for Patients?

Ask for a copy of the program’s daily schedule, so that you can see what a typical 24-hour period looks like for patients. This can help you determine if the center operates in an organized and efficient manner. It can also give you a strong idea of how many hours you’ll spend in treatment sessions, as well as what types of services you will be provided with during an average day. 

If you’re evaluating a residential program, be sure to get a copy of both a weekday and a weekend schedule so you can see if there are noticeable differences in the amount of care you can expect to receive.

9. How Does The Program Define Success For Their Patients?

Success in mental health treatment can look very different from one person to another. Asking this question is another way of ascertaining how committed a center is to providing customized care that meets each patient’s unique needs and objectives. 

10. What Is The Average Length of Stay In The Program?

Knowing how long you will likely be in treatment can be essential if you need to request time off from work, arrange for childcare, or make other necessary logistical arrangements before you enter the program. If you will be using insurance to pay for your care, you also need to be sure that your expected time in treatment doesn’t exceed your coverage limits.

11. What Happens If You Have a Relapse or Recurrence of Symptoms After Completing Treatment?

Spending time in a residential mental health treatment program can lead to considerable improvements in your quality of life. But completing treatment doesn’t mean that all of your problems and challenges will be resolved. 

Asking about relapse or symptom recurrence can help you determine if the programs you are considering are truly focused on your long-term progress. Their answer can also provide you with insights into their ability to prepare you for the obstacles that you are likely to encounter after you’ve transitioned out of their care.

12. Does The Mental Health Program Offer Family Therapy or Other Family Services?

Family involvement can be a valuable element of mental health treatment. Family therapy sessions can help your loved ones learn how to best support you during and after your time in treatment. These sessions can also help your family members process how they have been affected by your struggles, so that you can all begin to function as a healthier and more mutually supportive group.

13. Can you tour the facility or speak with people who have previously received treatment there?

Whether you will be receiving care at the residential, partial hospitalization, or intensive outpatient level, you will be spending a considerable amount of time at the mental health treatment center you select. A facility tour can help you evaluate important features such as safety, organization, and comfort.

Speaking with program alumni can give you a patient’s perspective on both the benefits and drawbacks of any center that you’re considering. Of course, your ability to connect with previous patients may depend on the type of facility you’re considering as well as any relevant privacy policies.

14. What Types of Discharge Planning Services or Aftercare Support Does The Program Offer?

We alluded to this before, but it bears repeating: Your time in treatment will be just one of many steps you will take to achieve better mental health. Before you enroll in any program, you will want to have a solid understanding of what type of post-treatment support you can expect. 

15. Does The Program Accept Insurance?

Ideally, the only thing that should matter when you’re seeking treatment is finding the program that is best prepared to meet your mental health needs. In reality, though, paying for care is a very real concern for most people. Before you make any commitments, be sure that you are fully aware of all costs associated with your treatment, as well as how they will be paid for.

Find Residential Mental Health Treatment in Atlanta, Georgia

If you have any questions about how Peachtree Wellness Solutions can help you or someone that you care about, please feel free to contact us at your earliest convenience. 

At our mental health treatment center in Atlanta, Georgia, we are committed to providing our patients and their loved ones with all the information they need, so that they can make the best decisions regarding their treatment and their healthier future.

To learn more about our programs and services, to discuss specific matters related to any mental health concerns that you have been experiencing, or to schedule a free assessment, please visit our Admissions page or call us today.