PTSD Fact Sheet: Finding a Therapist National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, US Department of Veterans Affairs (page 2 of 2) Page 2 of 2

Another way to locate a therapist is to make some phone calls.

• Contact your local mental-health agency or family physician.
• Call your local state psychological association
• Consult a local university or college department of psychology
• Call the National Center for Victims of Crime's toll-free information and referral service at 1-800-FYI-CALL. This is a comprehensive database of thousands of community service agencies throughout the country that directly support victims of crime.
• If you work for a large company or organization, call the human resources or personnel office to find out if they provide mental-health services or make referrals.
• If you are a member of a Health Maintenance Organization (HMO), call to find out if mental-health services are available.

Some local mental-health services are listed in the phone book in the blue Government pages. In the "County Government Offices" section for the county where you live, look for a "Health Services (Dept. of)" or "Department of Health Services" section. In that section, look for listings under "Mental Health." In the yellow pages, services and mental-health professionals are listed under "counseling," "psychologists," "social workers," "psychotherapists," "social and human services," or "mental health." Health insurance may pay for mental-health services and some are available at low cost according to your ability to pay.

There is also a lot of information that can be found on-line (on the computer). In many cases you can access a list of services or therapists in your area. In some cases areas of expertise are provided. Listed below are links and descriptions of some of these sites.

The Center for Mental Health Services Locator http://www.mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/databases/

Provides you with comprehensive information about mental health services and resources and is useful for professionals, consumers and their families, and the public. This site also provides a Frequently Asked Questions about mental health.

The Anxiety Disorders Association of America offers a referral network.

The Association for Advancement of Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT, formerly AABT) is a professional organization that maintains a database of CBT therapists.

Sidran offers a referral list of professional therapists, as well as a fact sheet on how to choose a therapist for PTSD and dissociative disorders.

If you are an American Veteran

VA medical centers and Vet Centers provide veterans with mental-health services that health insurance will cover or that costs little or nothing, according to a veteran's ability to pay. Following deployment to a combat zone after discharge, if you have enrolled for VA services, you are qualified for two years of care for conditions potentially related to your service.

VA medical centers and Vet Centers are listed in the phone book in the blue Government pages. Under "United States Government Offices," look in the section for "Veterans Affairs, Dept of." In that section look for VA Medical Centers and Clinics listed under "Medical Care" and for "Vet Centers - Counseling and Guidance," and call the one nearest to where you live. Or, you can call:

• The VA Health Benefits Service Center toll free at 1-877-222-VETS
• The Vet Centers' national number 1-800-905-4675

For online help go to www.va.gov and look for the VHA Facilities Locator link under "Health Care." The VA also offers the MyHealtheVet and Seamless Transition websites. For extensive resources see our Online Resources section for Veterans.

How can I find a support group?

The National Center for PTSD does not provide PTSD support groups, although many local VA medical centers may have various types of groups. Listed below is information on how to find support groups online or in your area.

The Anxiety Disorders Association of America offers a self-help group network.

The National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI) has a website with information on advocacy for those with mental illness, including affiliates who provide family support groups in different states.

About.com's trauma resource page offers a comprehensive listing of information, resources, links, and support groups (see Forums) on a wide array of topics related to trauma, particularly incest and child abuse.

From the National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, US Department of Veterans Affairs. www.mentalhealth.va.gov.

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