4/30/2026
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Posted by Fidelis Care
in
Health and Wellness,
Mental Health
Everyone feels sad or worried sometimes. But there are times when our thoughts and feelings get in the way of our daily lives and we may need the help of a counselor or therapist.
How to know if you need help
It can be hard to tell when stress, sadness, or worry has become something you need help with. Consider reaching out for support if your feelings:
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Fidelis Care can help
We want to make sure it's easy for Fidelis Care members to get care. We’ve added more providers to our list of counselors and therapists. We check the list often to keep it up to date. Use our Find a Doctor tool to find care near you. You can search by condition – like depression, anxiety, or trauma.
We’ve also created a special behavioral health team, trained to connect you with counselors and therapists. In many cases, they can help you find a counselor quickly. Our behavioral health team is available Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Just call 1-800-247-1441, extension 9.
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- last for two weeks or more
- get worse over time
- make it tough to do everyday things like work, go to school, sleep, eat, or take care of your home
- make you lose interest in things you normally like to do
- make it difficult to get along with other people
- make you withdraw from friends or family
- make it hard to focus or concentrate
Using alcohol or drugs more than usual can also be a sign that you need support.
There are also times when you should get help right away. If you have thoughts of harming yourself or someone else, or you feel in danger, call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, or call 911 in an emergency.
Choosing the right mental health professional
The right type of support depends on what you’re going through.
A counselor, therapist, psychologist, or clinical social worker can help with talk therapy if you:
- have been through a stressful experience
- are having trouble getting along with people
- feel grief from a loss
- feel down or depressed
- feel worried or anxious
If your symptoms are more severe and talk therapy is not enough, medication may help. In that case, you need to see someone who can prescribe medication, like a psychiatrist or psychiatric nurse practitioner.
It may also help to think about what matters most to you. Think about whether you want a provider who:
- treats your specific problem (like trauma or substance use)
- offers in-person visits or virtual visits over a phone or computer
- speaks your preferred language
- has experience working with a certain age group, like children, teens, or older adults
As with most health matters, your primary care provider is a good place to start. They can check to see if you are feeling bad because of a medical problem. If not, they can talk to you about what you’re feeling, what options are available, and connect you to care.