What To Look For In a Depression/Anxiety Treatment Center
While there are numerous programs and facilities that include depression and anxiety in the list of conditions they treat, few use evidence-based practices or have a team of clinicians who are appropriately trained in this specific area. Here are several ways to find a treatment center that can provide effective and personalized mental health care:- Look for a treatment center where patients tend to have similar presenting issues as yours. The facility should serve patients with a wide range of challenges besides depression and anxiety disorders, including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), insomnia and sleep disorders, mood regulation/bipolar disorders, phobias, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and self-esteem/body image issues.
- Focus on a center that provides CBT and ERP therapy. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a form of exposure and response prevention (ERP) wherein a patient gradually confronts their fears, worries, or situations to learn that these do not produce the negative outcome they believe will occur. A clinician who supports ERP can provide education about depression and anxiety, including their impact on your body and senses, in such a way that you understand based on your cognitive functioning.
- Choose a treatment center that provides individualized treatment plans. The center should have a system in place that provides the patient and their family access to a specific, individualized initial treatment plan that it developed upon admission and based on information gathered during the admissions process. Once you begin treatment, a master treatment plan that includes goals and objectives should be created and updated as necessary based on your progress in treatment.
- Make sure the treatment facility has an integrated team approach. A clinically suitable depression/anxiety treatment center must follow best practices and offer a multi-disciplinary team working together to monitor and document your treatment, while communicating and coordinating with one another on a regular basis.