How to get care

Your first step is to call us. You'll either talk to someone from our mental health care team at that time or schedule an initial assessment for a later date. During your assessment, you’ll talk about what you’re experiencing, why you’re seeking care, things you can do now to support your mental health, and what you hope to achieve through treatment. Your answers will help us figure out what type of care will be most helpful for you — whether you need tools and resources for healthy living, therapy, medication, or a combination of treatments.

Depending on where you live and the care you need, there's a chance that you might get care outside of Kaiser Permanente. The demand for mental health care is higher than ever — so we work with outside providers who we trust to make sure members can access the support they need.
 

If seeing a provider is part of your recommended treatment plan, we’ll schedule your first appointment based on the type of care you need and the soonest available appointment times — as well as your preferred provider gender and location whenever possible.

Mental health care is not one-size-fits-all. Treatment is different for everyone, because every person is different — culture, life experiences, and priorities are all things that need to be considered. The type of provider you see, the frequency of your visits, and the duration of your treatment will be tailored to your needs and goals. And if you don’t feel like your provider is the right fit, just give us a call — we'll work with you to find someone you're more comfortable with.

You play an active role in your treatment, so you can focus on what matters to you — and achieve the results you want. At each visit, you’ll talk with your provider about how you’re feeling, what’s working, and whether you feel supported and understood. Based on your feedback, you’ll work together to adjust your treatment plan as you go.
 

It’s important — and rewarding — to clearly see where you’re making progress in treatment. Before each appointment, you'll answer a few questions about how you're doing. Your ongoing feedback will help you and your provider understand what tools, therapies, and self-care techniques are helping, identify additional things you want to work on, and decide on a path forward once you’ve achieved your treatment goals.