- Who comes to the mental health center?
- Does it mean I am "crazy" if I come to the mental health center?
- What can I expect at the first visit?
- How do I pay?
- What is therapy?
- Will I receive medicine?
- What if I can't afford medicine?
- Do children come to the mental health center?
- What kinds of mental health providers are there?
- Does everyone who comes for therapy take medication?
- How do I know I have the right therapist?
- How are emergencies handled?
- Where do I enter the mental health center since there are two levels?
- Where is the mental health center located?
- Do you treat substance abuse?
- This is a small town, how do I know my information will be kept confidential?
- Is there ever a way confidentiality will be broken without my permission?
- What are my responsibilities as a client?
- What is the connection between the mental health center and the Station Clubhouse?
- What is the difference between Mental Illness and Mental Retardation?
Who comes to the mental health center?
People come to the mental health center for a variety of reasons such as depression, anxiety, childhood trauma, everyday stress, lack of self-esteem, eating problems, family issues, relationship problems, loss of a job, or grief from the death of a loved one. If you or someone you know wonders if the center can help, we encourage you to come for a consultation with one of our professionals.
Does it mean I am "crazy" if I come to the mental health center?
Absolutely not! It would be an unusual person who at some point in their life did not experience problems that could be alleviated by mental health treatment. Mental health problems often result from a combination of biological, psychological, or environmental factors. Biological issues, such as neurotransmitter imbalances in the brain, can affect one's ability to function properly. Psychological issues could include problematic patterns of thinking, feeling, or relating to others. Examples of environmental issues that can have a tremendous impact on someone's life are the loss of a job, divorce, death, or changes in friendships.
What can I expect at the first visit?
Typically, you will spend an hour with a therapist providing background information such as previous mental health treatment, medical status, the family you grew up with, schooling, work history, marital history, substance abuse patterns, and legal history. It would be helpful to bring a list of your current medications. Even though it can be difficult to share a lot of this information with someone you just met, having all these details about your background is important to make an accurate diagnosis of your current problem and guide treatment in the right direction. You and the therapist will work together to make decisions about the best treatment options for you, which could be therapy or a referral to our psychiatrist for medications. Please refer to the "Services" link to discover all the services offered at the Poweshiek County Mental Health Center.
How do I pay?
Services are paid for through a combination of what clients pay out of their pocket, what their health insurance pays, and public funding for those who can't pay. Most health insurance policies cover mental health services to some extent. The center accepts common insurance carriers like Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Medicare, and Medicaid (Title 19). People who do not have any kind of insurance may qualify for county or state funding. You can apply by contacting the CPC (Central Point of Coordination) of the county in which you live. For Poweshiek County, you can call the CPC at (641) 236-9199. A worker there will sit down with you and go over your finances and possibly help you pay for services. The administrative staff at the mental health center can help you determine how your services can be paid for. It is rare that a person will not qualify for any type of financial assistance. In those cases, the mental health center uses a sliding fee scale to determine a cost for services and will help you work out a payment plan.
What is therapy?
Therapy, also referred to as psychotherapy or talk therapy, is a process where a professional helps a person take more effective control of their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. This process requires a basis of trust and the client's willingness to talk about sensitive issues.
Will I receive medicine?
If your psychiatrist or physician assistant (PA) thinks taking medication would be helpful for your problem and you agree, you will get a prescription medication. Your doctor/PA will monitor for side effects and make sure the medication is working. Your responsibility as a pateint includes coming to your appointments and reporting side effects or problems. We will not prescribe medicine to patients we haven't seen in a long time or patients who don't show up for appointments.
What if I can't afford medicine?
Sometimes people don't have insurance plans for medicines or simply can't afford medications based on their income. We can help you apply directly to the pharmaceutical companies for patient assistance. If you meet their criteria, you might might be provided with free medication. We also have samples of some common medications that we might be able to give you.
Do children come to the mental health center?
Yes! The most common reasons are for medication management and therapy to address behavioral problems, depression, anxiety, ADHD, and psychological testing. We strongly encourage family therapy because working with a child's family is the best way to make changes in the child's behavior.
What kinds of mental health providers are there?
- Psychiatrists are medical doctors who complete a residency in psychiatry. Psychiatrists are primarily responsible for medication management.
- Psychologists have a Ph.D. or Psy.D. and conduct individual, family, or group therapy and do psychological testing.
- Physician Assistants have most of the training of a medical doctor and are responsible for medication management.
- Nurse Practitioners are another type of professional who can prescribe medication.
- Psychiatric Nurses are nurses with specialized training and experience working in the field of mental health.
- Licensed Independent Social Workers (LISW) conduct individual, family, or group therapy. They have a Master's Degree in social work with at least two years of supervised experience.
- Licensed Master Social Workers (LMSW) conduct individual, family, or group therapy. They have a Master's Degree in social work.
- Licensed Mental Health Counselors (LMHC) conduct individual, family, or group therapy. They have a Master's Degree in mental health counseling and at least two years of supervised experience.
- Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFT) conduct individual, family, or group therapy. They have a Master's Degree in marriage and family therapy with at least two years of supervised experience.
Does everyone who comes for therapy take medication?
No. The choice to just participate in therapy, just take medication, or do both is based on the symptoms and problems the client is experiencing and is a collaborative decision made by the client, the therapist, and the psychiatrist.
How do I know I have the right therapist?
The issue of a good fit between a client and a therapist is very important. The client should feel supported and respected. There should also be discussion about goals for therapy and an agreement should be reached. It is crucial that if a client is dissatisfied with therapy, he/she should talk with the therapist about this to see what changes can be made. The therapeutic relationship often resembles other relationships in the client's life. Therefore, someone who quits therapy without talking about the problem misses out on an opportunity to make positive changes.
How are emergencies handled?
During business hours, there are 10:00 am and 2:00 pm appointment slots available to assist individuals who are suicidal, homicidal, or might be in need of psychiatric hospitalization. After hours, on-call staff are available for emergencies. If you call the mental health center and follow the prompts, the therapist on-call will promptly return your call.
Where do I enter the mental health center since there are two levels?
The upper level parking lot is reserved for clients while overflow parking and staff parking are on the lower level. Enter the front door on the upper level and you will be greeted by our staff.
Where is the mental health center located?
Our address is 200 4th Avenue West in Grinnell. We are just west of Grinnell Regional Medical Center in a red brick building on the south side of the road.
Do you treat substance abuse?
Yes and no. Many of our clients have both mental health issues and substance abuse problems. But, if the primary problem is substance abuse we typically refer them to outside agencies.
This is a small town, how do I know my information will be kept confidential?
Keeping information about our clients private is one of our most important responsibilities. We value your trust in us and willingness to speak openly about your problems. State law and our professional codes of ethics prohibit us from sharing information without your permission. We do not talk about clients with our families, friends, schools, churches, etc. It simply is not ethical or legal to do so. If you ask us to share your information with someone or if we feel it would be helpful to share information with someone, such as your doctor or an agency we are referring you to for services, we will ask for your permission by having you sign a release of information form.
Is there ever a way confidentiality will be broken without my permission?
Since our staff are mandatory reporters, if we suspect child abuse or abuse to a dependent adult, we are required by law to report that to the proper authorities. This is not intended to betray your trust, it is meant to keep everyone safe. Another exception to confidentiality is that if someone is suicidal or homicidal, we can talk to anyone we need to in order to make sure everyone will be safe. The final exception to confidentiality is if a judge orders us to release information.
What are my responsibilities as a client?
- You need to show up for your appointment or call ahead to cancel.
- Be honest with your practitioner or else we will not be able to effectively treat your problem.
- Take your medication as prescribed or its effectiveness cannot be understood. If you are having problems with your medication or do not agree with how your therapy is conducted, you need to let your mental health professional know.
- Do not abuse drugs or alcohol. Substance abuse makes an accurate diagnosis very difficult. In addition, treatment is unlikely to be effective if the client is abusing drugs or alcohol.
What is the connection between the mental health center and the Station Clubhouse?
The Station Clubhouse located on Pearl Street is one of the services offered by the mental health center. Members of the Clubhouse have been diagnosed with a severe and persistent mental illness and benefit from extra socialization and support services. The Clubhouse is operated as a partnership between center staff and members of the Clubhouse with staff providing on-site support. If you or someone you know is interested in the Clubhouse, the phone number there is (641) 236-5325.
What is the difference between Mental Illness and Mental Retardation?
The Mentally Retarded have a diminished intellectual capacity usually present since birth. Those with Mental Illnesses are usually of normal intelligence although they may have difficulty performing at a normal level due to their illness.
Poweshiek County Mental Health Center