When Your Mental Health Provider Closes: How to Stay Supported During a Transition in Care

Changes in your mental health care, whether due to insurance updates, practice transitions, or a provider closing, can create understandable stress and uncertainty. You may feel worried about losing momentum in your progress or unsure about what to do next.

At Christian Health, we want you to know that you’re not facing this transition alone. We are dedicated to our mission to support the emotional, mental, and spiritual well-being of our community, especially during moments of significant change or uncertainty.

What a Provider Closure Means for Patients

When a mental health practice closes, you may face challenges that can disrupt your progress or sense of security in your treatment.

• Finding a new therapist: It can take time to find a provider who is a good match for you and understands your goals, history, and approach to therapy.
• Managing gaps in your care: Interruptions in therapy can feel unsettling, especially if you’ve been working through difficult emotions or significant life transitions. You may worry that a lull in your treatment will cause you to experience a recurrence in symptoms that have improved.

• Transferring your medical records: Clinical records may include treatment notes, medication history, diagnoses, or testing results. Having them transferred is important for continuity in your care, but the process can be stressful.

• Navigating insurance or coverage changes: Insurance networks may shift from year to year, and a new provider may or may not be in-network. This can influence who you’re able to see and what your out-of-pocket costs might be.

Steps to Take if Your Provider Is Closing

1. Request your medical records early.

Contact the closing provider promptly to ask for a copy of your records or request that they be sent directly to your new provider. Some practices require a signed release, so completing this quickly helps avoid delays.

2. Review your insurance coverage.

Your insurance website likely offers a directory of in-network mental health providers for you to choose from. Review your plan to narrow your search and prevent unexpected billing issues later.

3. Ask for recommendations.

Your former provider may be able to recommend clinicians who offer similar approaches or specialties. Even if they can’t provide direct referrals, they may be able to guide you in your search.

4. Clarify what you’re looking for next.

Before starting your search, reflect on what has worked well (or not) in your previous treatment experience. Understanding your needs will make your transition to a new provider smoother and help you continue to progress in your treatment.

Consider the following when searching for a new provider:

• What specialties you need, such as marriage counseling, addiction treatment, or trauma-informed care
• The type of care modality you’re looking for, such as psychotherapy, medication management, or group therapy
• Whether you'd like faith-integrated care
• Session times that fit your schedule
• A particular therapeutic style that works for you

Tips for Staying Grounded During the Transition

• Keep a routine where you can: Predictable patterns and rituals help you reduce anxiety and maintain a sense of normalcy. Try scheduling your bedtime, mealtimes, and time for self-care each day.
• Practice grounding techniques: Breathing exercises, journaling, and mindfulness practices can be helpful tools when your stress levels are elevated.
• Stay connected with supportive people: Leaning on people who care about you will keep you grounded through the transition.
• Seek immediate support if needed: If you feel overwhelmed, unsafe, or at risk of crisis, reach out to emergency services or crisis hotlines right away.

How Christian Health Can Help

At Christian Heath, we provide expert, patient-centered mental health treatment, with a warm, nonjudgmental approach, across our comprehensive continuum of care services. From outpatient counseling to inpatient treatment, we offer a steady, supportive place to continue your mental health journey.

What we offer:

• A diverse team of licensed therapists: Our highly qualified, expert therapists specialize in a variety of areas, including anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, family therapy, and couples counseling.
• Personalized treatment: Your care is tailored specifically to your needs with a customized treatment plan designed to foster whole-person wellness.
• Continuity of care: Caring for your mental health is a journey – and it’s not always linear. With our range of mental health care services – including outpatient counseling, a partial-hospitalization and intensive outpatient program, and our inpatient hospital – we can support you every step of the way.
• A welcoming environment: Our kind, friendly therapists deliver care in a warm, welcoming setting where you will feel comfortable and supported.

Christian Health Can Support You

Navigating a provider closure can feel overwhelming, but you do not have to go through it alone. With the right guidance, this transition can become an opportunity to find stability and even better care that meets your needs. If you are looking for a new provider, our team is here to support you and ensure continuity of care.

With our comprehensive continuum of mental health care, we are able to treat a diverse range of mental health issues and provide individualized, person-centered treatment, including talk therapy and medication management, so that you can continue to progress in your mental wellness journey.

You deserve compassionate, consistent support, and we’re here to provide it, every step of the way. Please call (201) 848-5800, send an email to LiveWellIntake@ChristianHealthNJ.org, or visit ChristianHealthNJ.info/MentalHealth to learn more about our range of mental health services or schedule an appointment as a new client.