Outpatient Mental Health Clinic in Los Angeles, CA

Benefits of Outpatient Mental Health Services 

Our mental health clinic in Southern California is different than other facilities of the same nature. Outpatient care at Montare BH provides the same standard care as our inpatient programs without as much of a time commitment. 

Less of a time commitment paired with the same quality of care is one of the more obvious benefits of outpatient programs. But there are many additional reasons to consider this form of treatment. 

Outpatient Behavioral Health Treatment is Often Less Expensive 

Outpatient care is often much less expensive than inpatient care. Insurance providers also may be more likely to cover treatment in its outpatient form because it is less expensive. And if certain insurance providers don’t cover it entirely, it still means that patients won’t need to pay as much out-of-pocket. This makes mental health treatment affordable and accessible for everyone who needs it.

Why does Outpatient Care Cost Less than an Inpatient Program? 

Receiving quality mental health treatment in the United States can be costly. Inpatient programs can easily cost individuals tens of thousands of dollars, if not more. It makes sense: staying overnight in a medical facility puts more strain on the facility. 

For instance, inpatient programs typically provide multiple meals, housing, and 24/7 support. Taking away some of the responsibility of a treatment facility allows it to charge patients less.

Telehealth Options are More Likely Available 

More and more insurance providers offer extensive coverage for virtual medical visits. Virtual outpatient mental health services may be offered in some facilities to clients who could benefit from them. 

Obstacles to treatment can often prevent individuals from getting the help they so desperately need. In fact, Mental Health America found 19% of people suffered from a mental illness from 2017-2018. Yet almost a quarter of this population reported they didn’t receive treatment, illuminating the need for accessible mental health care.

Since individuals don’t necessarily need to attend treatment more than a few hours a week, telehealth visits may benefit some clients. Some people who may benefit from virtual outpatient care include those with a physical disability along with individuals who don’t have a reliable mode of transportation.

Moving Away Might Not Mean Losing a Medical Provider 

More than the benefit of convenience, finding the right counselor or therapist can be a challenge. Once those struggling with psychological health issues find the right match, it’s painful to part ways. Virtual options may allow clients to keep their mental health providers despite moving. 

Employees Can Keep Their Health Insurance 

Employees suffering from a mental health disorder might find themselves in an uncomfortable position. Many employees have insurance through their employer. More often than not, when people quit or are let go, they lose the insurance that their employee covered fully or partially. 

Individuals who need behavioral health care can get the treatment they need at a price they can afford through outpatient services. Eliminating the need to live at a mental health treatment facility means that employees can still go to work, thereby keeping their insurance. That isn’t to downplay the difficulty in going to work while struggling with mental illness. But speaking candidly to an employer can help while an employee undergoes treatment. 

Your Rights as an Employee

Speaking to an employer honestly about having a mental illness prior to attending outpatient services can be difficult. It’s hard enough to talk about mental illness with medical professionals, let alone accept you may have one in the first place. 

Fortunately, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) writes that employers are likely unable to fire an employee with a disability—and having a mental illness could be a disability in many cases. Also, as long as you’re making an effort to attend treatment, employers should be understanding without any legal obligations to fulfill. 

Outpatient Mental Health Programs Can Act as Aftercare 

There are different levels of care here at Montare BH. Outpatient care is the least intense form of care because clients only participate in such programs a few hours per week. While this could be ineffective for people beginning their journey to recovery, it can act as a great form of aftercare for those further along. 

By definition, aftercare is a program or strategy a person puts in place after he or she ends treatment. Patients who have completed an intensive outpatient program can use a general outpatient program to maintain mental health. People can only overcome mental illness in the long term by managing it at all times, not just when it gets worse. 

The Importance of Aftercare 

Research shows that some common mental illnesses have a high chance of relapse after initial recovery. But regular aftercare can reduce the chances of becoming part of this statistic. 

It’s easy to slip from feeling stable to being at your lowest point without noticing. Making sure to include therapy, medication, and holistic therapy consistently in your life can prevent this. That means even after feeling stable, regardless of how long you’ve felt mentally stable.