Off-campus Mental Health Services

Receiving Off-Campus Mental Health Services

The Ebersole Health and Wellbeing Center provides short-term counseling for enrolled students. However, at times students are in need of more ongoing and intensive mental health services than the center can provide.

The off campus evaluation and treatment resources and other community resources function independently and are not in any way under our control or supervision. After gathering information from the referral sources, you will need to make your own decision about the appropriateness of any of these off-campus resources for your own particular situation. You will also need to provide your own transportation to and payment for these services, though local transportation might be available from the College with advance notice.

Costs and checking your insurance coverage

Many health insurance policies provide coverage for mental health or substance abuse services. If you have private insurance coverage (typically through your or a family member’s employer), check with your insurance company to see if mental health services are covered, and if so, how you may obtain these benefits. This also applies to persons enrolled in HMOs, other types of managed care plans, and plans for government employees, military personnel, and their dependents. You should call the insurance company before you make an appointment with a specific mental health or substance abuse professional or agency. Here are some helpful questions to ask your insurance company:

1. Are there benefits in your plan for mental health (or substance abuse) services? Does your plan include both inpatient and outpatient benefits? Does your plan cover psychotropic (mental health) medication?
2. What are the outpatient benefits? Are there limits on number of visits or dollar amount within a single year or in your lifetime (yearly and lifetime maximums)? What is the deductible which you must satisfy before the benefits begin? Are there any kinds of problems/issues which are excluded from coverage?
3. What types of providers of mental health or substance abuse treatment are eligible for reimbursement under your policy? Are clinical social workers covered? Psychologists? Master’s level counselors? Psychiatrists? Must the provider be licensed? Does the provider have to be under the supervision of a psychiatrist or PhD psychologist? Are there any other parameters that determine whether a provider is eligible for reimbursement?
4. Must you see a provider who is part of a preferred provider network designated by your insurance company? Will insurance cover a provider outside this group (and outside of your home area, if you are attending college away from home)? What is the process for getting approval to see someone outside the preferred provider network? Are the benefits the same if you see someone outside the preferred provider network?
5. Will the insurance company pay the provider directly or pay you?

The provider you choose may also be able to help you check on your insurance coverage. The provider will want to gather relevant insurance information from you at the time you make an appointment or at your first visit. You should be sure you have your health insurance card containing specific information about your coverage at your first appointment.

If you are not covered by insurance, you may decide to pay for treatment out-of-pocket. Some agencies operate on a sliding-scale fee policy where the amount you pay depends on your income. Ask the agency or professional where you would like to receive services what their hourly fees are and whether they have a sliding fee scale.

Selecting a therapist

Selecting a therapist is a highly personal matter. A professional who works very well with one individual may not be a good choice for another person. There are several ways to get referrals to qualified therapists, including the following:

• Talk to family members and friends for their recommendations, especially if they have had a good experience in therapy.
• Ask your primary care physician (or other health professional) for a referral.
• When speaking with your insurance provider re: coverage, ask them if they have a website that lists local covered providers (i.e., near Mt. Vernon) or a list of covered providers they can send to you. They can provide a list of local providers, or providers in your home town, depending on your needs.
• Set up an intake appointment with a counselor on campus ; we can assess your needs and help connect you with a local provider.
• Inquire at your church, synagogue, or other house of worship.
• Look in the phone book for the local mental health association (such as the National Institute of Mental Health, NIMH), community mental health center or human services information or referral program.
• If you are seeking a therapist outside of Iowa, such as for home over the summer or while out of state on internship, consider using the American Psychological Association’s Find a Psychologist service. Call 800.964.2000 to be connected to your state’s psychological association, which will help you locate providers in your area. You can also use the APA online locator.

Ideally, you will end up with more than one option. Call and request the opportunity, either by phone or in person, to ask the therapist some questions. You might want to ask about the therapist’s professional training and licensure, years of experience and areas of expertise. You might briefly describe the concerns or issues for which you are seeking therapy and ask about the therapist’s experience helping people with these types of problems. You will want to ask about fees, insurance and billing practices.

Therapists and clients work together. The right match is important. A key factor in determining whether or not to work with a particular therapist, once the person’s credentials and competence are established, is your level of personal comfort with that therapist. A good rapport is critical. Choose a therapist with whom you feel comfortable and at ease. Don’t be afraid to explore other options if you don’t feel comfortable with the first therapist you meet. Please realize, too, that if you are working on concerns which are difficult to share, you may sometimes feel a bit uncomfortable with any therapist.

Helpful search tools

• Psychology Today Therapist Finder: click on "Find a Therapist", enter your zip code, use the filter to choose your insurance, presenting concerns, etc.
• American Psychological Association's Psychologist Locator: enter your zip code or city and state, then use the filter to choose other options like insurance, specialties, therapist gender, etc.
• Welltrack Connect: if you learn best by watching videos, you might enjoy these short videos about mental health counseling and finding a provider.

Questions about mental health services?

Stop in our office, call 319.895.4292 or email counseling@cornellcollege.edu.