Psychological studies show that your mind and your body are strongly linked. As your mental health declines, your physical health can wear down, and if your physical health declines, it can make you feel mentally "down." A positive outlook can help keep you healthy.

You can improve the quality of your everyday life by building the skills of resilience, which will help you adapt to stress and bounce back from life's most difficult times. Resilience isn't something you're born with - it's something you can learn over time. Resilient people are people with strong emotional well-being who have healthy relationships with people and an optimistic outlook. Optimism and good relationships both have been shown to improve health and longevity.

You can also pay attention to what your body is telling you about the state of your mind. If you're getting tension headaches, for example, your body may be telling you that you need help dealing with whatever's on your mind.

A psychologist can help with everyday life

A psychologist can help you meet the challenges and stress you face every day by working with you to create strategies that build resilience. Talking to a psychologist can help you deal with emotions that can make you sick.

Psychological well-being and learning resilience go hand in hand and provide:

• The capacity to make realistic plans to deal with stressors in your life and carry them out

• A positive view of yourself and confidence in your strength and ability to confront life's challenges

• Skills in communication and problem solving

• The capacity to manage strong feelings and impulses associated with stress

• Ways to avoid illness brought on by stress, anxiety and other mental stressors.

Sometimes you may face overwhelming feelings or serious illness. A psychologist can help.

Psychology has been shown to successfully treat depression, anxiety and other emotional health issues. And heart patients have been shown to live longer when their treatment included psychotherapy.

When you reach a point in your life when you want professional help, you want to talk to someone you trust and feel comfortable with. A good friend can listen, but a psychologist has the skills and professional training to help you learn to manage when you're overwhelmed.

• Psychologists have doctoral degrees and are licensed by the state in which they practice.

• They receive one of the highest levels of education of all health care professionals - in fact, psychologists spend an average of seven years in education and training after they receive their undergraduate degree.

• Psychologists study human experience and behavior.

• Psychologists are trained to help people cope more effectively with life problems, using techniques based on best available research and their clinical skills and experience, and taking into account the person's unique values, goals and circumstances.

A psychologist can help you to identify your problems and then figure out ways to best cope with them; to change contributing behaviors or habits; or to find constructive ways to deal with a situation that is beyond your control. In other words, a psychologist can improve both your physical and mental well-being.

It's time to talk to a psychologist when...

• you want to prevent life's stressors from threatening your physical health.

• you want to build your confidence and resilience to meet challenges head-on.

• you want to gain a mental edge to be your best at your job and with your family.

• you or someone in your family has been diagnosed with a chronic illness.

• you're overwhelmed and can't handle the problem yourself.

How can I find a psychologist?

The American Psychological Association can assist you. By calling 1-800-964-2000, you can be connected directly to the state or local referral service for psychologists in your area, or you can visit APA's online help center, www.apahelpcenter.org.

What about confidentiality?

Your privacy is important to you and will be important to your psychologist. All members of the American Psychological Association subscribe to a Code of Ethics that requires strict efforts to maintain patient confidentiality. Today, state law typically requires patients to be asked to approve the release of mental health information in order to obtain insurance reimbursement or coverage for their treatment. Your psychologist will only release that information if you sign a release form indicating that you give your approval. The enactment of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) was also intended to provide patients with increased protection of this information.

Is therapy included in my insurance health plan coverage?

Many insurance plans provide some level of coverage for psychological services. In addition, government-sponsored health coverage programs (Medicare, Medicaid, CHAMPUS, etc.) provide varying levels of coverage.

If you do not have coverage and will be paying for your treatment out of pocket, you can talk with your psychologist about sliding-scale fees, or working out a payment plan. Community mental health centers are also an alternative.
Millions of Americans who have received help from psychological treatment would say that it is one of the best investments they've made in terms of improving their lives.

How can I find out about my coverage?

Call your insurance health plan representative to find out exactly what is covered - outpatient therapy, more intensive treatment, etc. - and what level of coverage you have.

Ask if the full cost of treatment is covered, or only a part. Inquire if there are limits such as co-payments, limits on the number of visits, annual or lifetime maximums. If the plan covers only "medically necessary" treatment, find out how that decision is made.

Ask what you can do if your coverage is denied or cut short.

Find out if there is a group of providers, a "network," that you must choose from or if you can choose any psychologist with whom you feel comfortable.

What if my insurance coverage is inadequate?

Your employer's benefits or human resource manager may be able to suggest a doctor who will see employees at a fee you can afford. Some communities have clinics or teaching hospitals where services are provided on a sliding scale. There may be a local psychological association that maintains a list of private practitioners who see patients for a reduced fee. Your family doctor also may be able to help.

• Are you licensed by the state?

• How long have you been practicing?

• What areas do you specialize in (i.e., family therapy, marriage counseling, etc.)?

• What kind of treatment do you usually use, and why do you feel this would be effective for my situation?

• How long would you expect my treatment to last?

• What are your fees?

• Will you accept my insurance or HMO coverage?

• Will you directly bill my insurance company?

• Do you have a sliding fee scale, or will you set up a payment plan?

Once you've established the basics, it's important that you feel comfortable with the psychologist you choose, and that over time, you're able to develop a rapport with the psychologist since your treatment will involve working together as a team.