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Types of mental health care

In confidential, one-on-one sessions, you and your mental health therapist can explore your thoughts, feelings, and actions and find ways to support your mental health and overall goals. 

For some conditions, medications are often helpful. Once you’re diagnosed, your care team may prescribe medicine and help you manage it. This could include your primary care doctor, a psychiatrist, a nurse practitioner, or a physician assistant who works in mental health treatment. 

Knowing you’re not alone can help. In group therapy, mental health professionals lead meetings where you and members with similar experiences or mental health issues can work on reaching common wellness goals. It’s an opportunity to learn from and connect with others. And it’s a safe space — you never have to share anything that makes you uncomfortable.

Learn how to improve your relationships, challenge unhealthy thinking and behavior, deal with stress, and more in online or in-person classes.2

Find classes and support groups near you

Explore a wide variety of self-guided wellness tools, like:

  • Online self-assessments
  • Digital self-care apps
  • Wellness Coaching by Phone

Browse wellness tools and resources

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Medicaid members may be able to access more mental health services outside Kaiser Permanente. Ask your doctor about how to access mental health services under your specific plan.3

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What to expect

Everyone’s mental health and wellness journey is different. At Kaiser Permanente, we’re here to help you feel better along the way. 

Getting to know you is the first step in helping you find the care you need. You can talk to your primary care doctor about your concerns or call us to talk with our mental health care team or schedule an assessment for a later date. To help us connect you to the best care options for you, you’ll discuss things like:

  • What you’re feeling
  • Why you’re seeking care
  • A few details about your background and lifestyle
  • What you hope to get out of treatment 

If you need to see a mental health professional, we’ll help you schedule your first appointment. Depending on where you live and the care you need, we may recommend a provider outside of Kaiser Permanente. We work with select providers we trust to help make sure you get the support you need.

You’re unique — and your care should be, too. Your care team will work with you to design a treatment plan that fits your needs.

During each visit, you and your clinician will discuss how you’re feeling, what’s working, and if you feel supported and understood. You and your clinician will create and update your treatment plan based on what you both think is best for you — and that’s a good thing. Your care will meet you wherever you are on your mental health journey. 

Mental health care goes beyond a single department. Primary care, emergency care, and specialty areas like maternity, cardiac, and oncology all offer mental and emotional support and services.

Your primary care doctor is also trained to screen for, diagnose, and treat mild mental health conditions — so mental health support is always part of your care. 

Mental health isn’t always easy to measure. But it can be rewarding to see where and how you’re improving.

The best measure of progress is how you’re feeling. Before each appointment, you’ll answer a set of questions about how you’re doing. This will help you and your care team decide what to work on and track what tools, therapies, and self-care techniques are helping you get better and reach your goals.  

How to get care

When depression, anxiety, addiction and recovery, or other mental or emotional issues interfere with your daily life, we’re here to help.

Find mental health support near you


Need help now? If you think you’re having a psychiatric emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.4
 

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Common mental health concerns

Everyone’s experience is different, but it’s important to know that mental health issues are manageable — and support is available. Explore some of the signs and symptoms of different concerns.
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Youth mental health

Many children and teens experience issues with mental health, emotional wellness, or substance use. We can help parents and caregivers find the right resources and learn how to offer support.

Pregnant person relaxing on a chair

Pregnancy and postpartum mental health

Pregnancy and the time after childbirth are full of ups and downs. It’s not unusual to feel depressed, anxious, or overwhelmed. You’re not alone — and we can help.

Explore mental fitness tools

Digital self-care apps

These wellness apps can help you navigate life's challenges, and make small changes to improve your sleep, mood, relationships, and more. 

Learn more about self-care apps
Classes and support groups

Join one of our group support programs or health education classes.5

Find classes and support groups near you
Find Your Words

Find Your Words is Kaiser Permanente’s public mental health awareness resource. Find tips for dealing with stress, talking about your mental health, getting peer support, and more.

Explore the Find Your Words resources
Self-assessments

An online self-assessment can help you understand difficult thoughts and feelings you might have — and where you may need some help.

Take an online self-assessment
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Frequently asked questions

The type of health care professional you’ll see depends on your needs, preferences, and goals for treatment.

Primary care doctors: Licensed medical doctors who can help assess your needs, prescribe and manage medications, and connect you to additional care.

Psychiatrists: Licensed medical doctors who can diagnose mental health conditions and prescribe and monitor medication. You may also work with other licensed medical professionals who can prescribe and monitor medications, like nurse practitioners, physician assistants, or pharmacists.

Therapists: Clinicians who can evaluate, diagnose, and treat mental health concerns. They may be licensed psychologists, clinical social workers, or marriage and family therapists.

Addiction medicine specialists: Clinicians who provide comprehensive treatment for people with substance use disorders and addiction issues. 

Any mental health care professional you see will be highly skilled and passionate about helping you achieve your mental health goals. Because Kaiser Permanente also serves as a training site, you may also get care from a trainee supervised by a licensed professional.

We know that having a good relationship with your care team is important. So if your mental health care professional isn’t a good fit, let us know and we’ll help you find the right one for you.

If you’re thinking about getting mental health care, it can be tough to know where to start. That’s what we’re here for.

You can talk about your concerns with anyone on your care team at any time, and they can connect you to the support you need. Reach out to your primary care doctor, call our 24/7 advice line, or contact your local Kaiser Permanente mental health department directly. Wherever you choose to begin the conversation, we’ll help you understand your options and figure out the next steps.

Find mental health support near you

The best thing you can do to help someone you care about is to give them support, encouragement, and hope. If the person you want to help is a Kaiser Permanente member, you can encourage them to call us. We’ll talk to them about how they’re feeling and what they’re going through — that’s the first step to making sure they have the care and support they need.

Learn more about helping someone who's struggling.

The type of clinician you see, how often you visit them, and how long you’re in treatment will depend on your needs and goals. 

Your care team can help you set treatment goals, make progress toward achieving those goals, and keep you moving in a positive direction.

And if you don’t feel like your clinician is the right fit, just call us. We’ll work with you to find someone you’re more comfortable with.

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Footnotes

  1. In California, Kaiser Permanente provides services for Medi-Cal members with mild to moderate mental health and some substance use needs. For more serious needs, the county’s mental health plan provides those services to Medi-Cal members.    Continue at 1
  2. Classes vary by location. Some members may have to pay a fee for certain classes. Continue at 2
  3. If you are a Medicaid beneficiary, your ability to receive behavioral health, mental health, and addiction services through Kaiser Permanente may vary depending on the state in which you live. In some states, these services are provided to you by the state or county Medicaid program rather than by Kaiser Permanente. Please be sure to check your Medicaid member manual or check with Member Services for which of these services you may obtain through Kaiser Permanente. Continue at 3
  4. If you believe you have an emergency medical condition, call 911  or go to the nearest hospital. If you need addiction or mental health-related crisis support, or are worried about someone else, you can also use 9-8-8  (TTY 711) to talk, text or visit the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline’s chat  for free, confidential support with a trained crisis counselor 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The lifeline is provided by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Continue at 4
  5. See note 2 . Continue at 5