Sometimes, we just need someone to talk to and lend an extra ear and outside perspective to help us solve our problems. This doesn't mean that we have to go straight to a doctor to get medication or admit ourselves to the psychiatric ward. Sure, getting psychological help in the United States is a very touchy process because of the risk and danger involved with not getting treatment, however if you simply have a problem of a lesser degree, you may not need expensive and long-term treatment. To help you find some alternatives to traditional psychological care in the United States, I've arranged a short outline of same additional options that you might be interesting in considering.

The first type of alternative counseling, and by far one of the most widely used and respected, is marriage counseling. You don't have to deal with marital issues on your own and going to couple's therapy is often a great way to get help. For many people, this first step is to visit a pastor or chaplain to offer them basic help without having to pay for traditional therapy. However, if this isn't an option for you, then you can try seeing a family therapist, who are experienced and specialize in this type of problem.

Often times, we need to find psychological help for our children, but don't want to take them to a psychologist. Some people don't want their children's records to reflect early mental issues, while others don't feel it is necessary to see a clinical psychologist. Therefore, you can visit a social worker at your child's school or at a local clinic. Often times, this type of treatment is non-invasive and just talking through a problem can help. There are a variety of low cost and free clinics that can help you and your child work through minor issues.

There are also a variety of hotlines and other free resources to obtain basic psychological help in the US. Although eventually most of these will refer you to a psychologist if the situation warrants it, just talking to someone to find out if you need advanced help can make all the difference.

If you are struggling with depression, suicide, or homicidal tendencies, then I suggest that you contact someone immediately to help you work out your issues, but if you are dealing with smaller problems, then you might be ok by simply talking to your regular family care practitioner.

The bottom line is that there are a lot of treatment options available to you if you are interested in learning about alternative psychological treatment methods. If you need a referral or advice, ask your regular doctor if he knows any specialists. You can also look in the phone book, but often times you can also use the internet to find someone. You can visit their website and contact them via email if you are shy or cautious about exposing yourself. Remember, treatment is confidential and if you start seeing someone for your psychological needs, then you can trust that they will not reveal your secrets to others.