What is integrated behavioral health?
Integrated behavioral health is a patient care model whereby psychologists and therapists who treat mental health concerns are part of the care team within a primary care physician’s practice. In some instances, integrated behavioral health services may also be available within obstetric and gynecological care practices, and pain management practices. This team-based approach ensures care for behavioral health concerns is easily accessible.
What is the difference between a psychiatrist, a psychologist, and a psychotherapist or therapist?
A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who has completed at least four years of specialized study and training in psychiatry following medical school. Psychiatrists can provide medical and psychiatric evaluations, treat disorders, conduct psychotherapy, and prescribe and monitor medicines.
A psychologist has a doctoral degree in clinical, educational, counseling or research psychology. Psychologists treat emotional, mental and behavioral problems, and provide assessments, psychotherapy and behavior modification.
Psychotherapists and therapists must earn a master’s degree to treat patients.
Do I need to be a patient of a particular primary care practice to be eligible to meet with an in-house behavioral health clinician?
Yes, to access an in-house behavioral health clinician, you must be a patient of the primary care physician in that practice. This is in keeping with the philosophy behind integrated behavioral health services, a team-based approach to caring for the whole person―mind and body.
Are integrated behavioral health services available for children and adolescents, or only for adults?
Integrated behavioral health services are available for individuals of all ages. While we may ultimately recommend specialty behavioral health services for children and adolescents, our in-house clinicians can conduct an initial visit to determine recommendations and next steps.
How do I schedule an appointment?
If you are already seeing a primary care physician in a practice that offers integrated behavioral health services, simply talk with your doctor about scheduling a visit with an in-house clinician.
If you are interested in becoming a patient of a primary care practice that offers integrated behavioral health services, you can call any practice directly to discuss next steps. See the complete list of practices offering these services.
To access any of our behavioral health services across Main Line Health, please call 1.888.CARE.898 (227.3898).
Are visits with an in-house behavioral health clinician covered by insurance?
Yes, although it should be noted that most insurance plans have co-pays and/or deductibles. This varies by plan.
What clinicians are part of the integrated behavioral health team?
Our in-house behavioral health clinicians include psychologists, therapists, doctoral psychology residents and post-doctoral psychology fellows. Team members are specific to each individual practice.
What do you mean by doctoral psychology residents and post-doctoral psychology fellows?
Through our partnership with Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM), Main Line Health has doctoral psychology residents on rotation with us for duration of their internship/residency year. These residents are trained and experienced in evidenced-based treatment, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).
CBT is a form of psychological treatment that has been demonstrated to be effective for a range of problems including depression, anxiety disorders, alcohol and drug use problems, marital problems, eating disorders, and severe mental illness.
Each resident comes into the PCOM doctoral program with a master’s degree in psychology or a related field, and enters into residency after completing their education and clinical rotations for their doctoral degrees in clinical psychology. They provide high-quality care, supervised by a licensed psychologist, free of charge to patients.
Post-doctoral psychology fellows are previous doctoral psychology residents who have been invited to extend their stay at Main Line Health following their residency. Like our residents, our fellows also provide high-quality care, supervised by a licensed psychologist, free of charge to patients.
If I am a patient of a practice offering integrated behavioral health, how many visits am I eligible for with a behavioral health clinician?
If you are a patient in a primary care or other practice offering integrated behavioral health services, you are eligible for eight to ten 30-minute visits each year with a behavioral health clinician.
What if I need help with behavioral health concerns, but I am not a patient at a primary care practice that offers integrated behavioral health services, and I do not plan to change my primary care physician?
Beyond offering integrated behavioral health services, Main Line Health provides comprehensive care for mild, moderate and severe mental health issues, psychiatric conditions and substance use disorders. Offerings include specialized services for women at two wellness centers, inpatient and outpatient treatment centers for substance use disorders and mental health concerns, and an inpatient psychiatric unit.
Find out more about Behavioral Health Services or call 1.888.CARE.898 (227.3898).
What should I do if I, or a loved one, is experiencing a behavioral health emergency?
If you or a loved one is experiencing thoughts of suicide or any behavioral health crisis, call or visit the nearest Crisis Response Center (CRC) or emergency department (ED) within the same county where the behavioral concerns or emergency have occurred. Below is a list of CRCs and EDs in our region.
Call 911 immediately if you or someone you know is having a behavioral health crisis or thoughts of suicide.
Delaware County
Riddle Hospital ED
1068 West Baltimore Pike
Media, PA 19063
484.227.9400
Chester Crozier Medical Center CRC
1 Medical Center Blvd
Chester, PA 19013
610.447.7600
Montgomery County
Bryn Mawr Hospital ED
130 South Bryn Mawr Avenue
Bryn Mawr, PA 19010
484.337.3000
Lankenau Medical Center ED
100 East Lancaster Avenue
Wynnewood, PA 19096
484.476.8500
Montgomery County Emergency Services CRC
50 Beech Drive
Norristown, PA 19403
610.279.6100
Chester County
Paoli Hospital ED
255 West Lancaster Avenue
Paoli, PA 19301
484.565.1000
Valley Creek Crisis Center
469 Creamery Way
Exton, PA 19341
610.280.3270
Philadelphia County
Einstein Medical Center CRC
5501 Old York Road
Philadelphia, PA 19141
215.456.7890
Friends Hospital CRC
4641 Roosevelt Blvd
Philadelphia, PA 19124
215.831.4600
Hall Mercer Community Mental Health CRC
245 South 8th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106
215.829.5249
Temple Episcopal Hospital CRC
100 East Lehigh Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19125
215.707.1200