Clearwater, Florida Therapists

Mental Health Resources in Clearwater, Florida

Clearwater, Florida has an estimated population of 107,685 and is part of the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater metropolitan area. Bordered by the Gulf of Mexico to the west and Tampa Bay to the southeast, this seat of Pinellas County is known for its beautiful white sand beaches. Clearwater is a year-round vacation destination but is also provides a good lifestyle for its residents who enjoy warm weather and picturesque scenery. While employment has gone up in the past several years in the Clearwater area, the average household income is still below average compared to the rest of the country. Economic uncertainty can be a leading cause of stress for many people. It impacts the emotional and physical well-being of individuals. This can pose serious problems especially in an area where mental health resources to help with these stressors may not be as easily accessed. It has been reported that 61% of adults in Florida suffering from a mental illness did not receive treatment. This access to care ranking is higher than the national average of 55.8%.

A Worrisome Trend

Florida is one of the lower ranking states in the nation when it comes to the level of access to insurance and mental health treatment in the U.S. It currently is 44^th and is nearly last when it comes to mental health spending per person.

As a part of one of the major metropolitan areas in Florida, Clearwater has an important role to play in ensuring its residents can obtain the help they need. The increasing numbers of mental illness are an unfortunate reality but putting the right programs in place can help tackle the problem.

If you are experiencing feelings of depression, anxiety, undue stress, or another condition that is having a negative impact on your quality of life, you may want to consider reaching out for assistance from a professional. When you are ready to find a Clearwater mental health professional or therapist we want to help with your search. Our goal is to connect you with someone who understands you and who can work around your busy schedule.

Recognizing you might need outside help to deal with issues related to your mental health is not always easy, but when you are ready, we want to make the process of finding treatment as smooth as possible for you. We suggest that before beginning your search you first take a moment to think about what it is you need from treatment.

Your Search for the Right Mental Health Professional

Before you can begin to consider the type of help you are seeking, it is important to think about your unique needs. Asking yourself a few questions at the outset about what conditions might work best for you will help focus your search when you do finally start to look at the resources available to you. Here are a few key questions you can start with:

• What specific condition are you needing assistance with?
• Why is now the right time for you to get help?
• What would you consider a successful outcome of therapy to be for you?
• Do you feel more comfortable speaking with a female or male therapist about your personal issues?
• What timeframe do you have to devote to the process of treatment?
• Are you looking to work with someone who specializes in certain conditions, such as eating disorders or addiction?
• What type of environmental support do you have from friends and family?

This is by no means a complete list of questions, but it will get you to think about your own possible requirements. Gaining clarity about what you personally need will help you communicate your needs to anyone you may potentially work with.

Health Insurance Considerations

Mental health treatment can sometimes be costly, so it is a good idea if you reach out to your health insurance company to find out what, if any, services they may cover. You may find that it will cost you less out-of-pocket to work with a therapist who is in their network of preferred professionals. This savings to you could potentially mean better and more thorough access to care so it is worthwhile to find out what your insurance covers on your plan.