Mental & behavioral health
Our award-winning mental health doctors are working to advance the understanding of mental health disorders and to help make treatment more effective.
Knowing matters. We’ll help get you answers and develop a treatment plan that’s backed by the latest research.
From the first appointment, we’re here for you with multiple locations, personalized treatment options and a care team focused on your well-being.
Why is it that we tell everyone when we struggle with a cold, but hesitate to tell anyone when we struggle with depression? At HealthPartners and Park Nicollet, we know that mental health is just as important as physical health. We’re working to remove the stigma around mental health conditions and clear the way for honest conversations. Only then can we fully support one another and make treatment more accessible for everyone.
We take an integrated approach to treating mental health. Using the skills and experience of both our primary care doctors and mental and behavioral health specialists, we’re able to provide help for a broad range of mental health issues, from the common to the more complex.
If you or someone you know is looking for mental health help, you’re in the right place. Our team of mental and behavioral health experts can provide the compassionate support and help you need.
We also treat
- Anger management
- Bipolar disorder
- Developmental disorders
- Grief and loss
Gender care and letters of support - Mental health related to pregnancy, fertility and post-partum
- Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Panic
- Parent guidance & behavior management
- Phobias
- Psychotic disorders
- Relationship problems
Seasonal mood problems Self-harm - Situational stress
- Sleep disorders
- Trauma and stressor-related conditions
With locations across Minnesota and western Wisconsin, we offer compassionate mental health care close to home.
Signs of a mental health condition
Symptoms may differ from person to person. People with a mental health condition may experience mood changes, muscle tension, fatigue and insomnia (trouble sleeping), feeling “on edge” or tense, or difficulty concentrating. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, it might be a good idea to schedule an appointment with one of our primary care doctors. Our primary care doctors are experts in diagnosing hundreds of conditions and can help you get started.
Anytime you have new or unusual symptoms that you are concerned about or are worsening, you should call your doctor’s office to decide on next steps.
Diagnosing mental health conditions
To make a diagnosis, our doctors, mental health therapists, physician assistants or nurse practitioners first talk with you about how you’ve been feeling and take note of all symptoms, both mental and physical. They will ask questions to make a diagnosis and begin discussing treatment options.
Personalized treatment plans
A variety of methods can be used to treat mental health conditions. The most common treatments include talk therapy, medication and lifestyle changes. Often a combination of all three is best for improving symptoms long-term. We will work with you to develop a treatment plan you’re comfortable with.
Talk therapy
Talk therapy, also called psychotherapy or therapy, involves meeting with a therapist for a series of sessions. An important part of talk therapy is the professional relationship between patient and therapist. This relationship exists for the purpose of improving your mental health, making it easier to discuss your feelings without fear of judgement or consequences to your job, school or personal relationships.
Mental health therapists are specially trained to ask questions that help them understand and determine the best way to help. Through talk therapy, you can find a comfortable outlet for expressing your feelings and learn valuable new ways to manage your symptoms.
Medication
Medication can be another effective treatment option, and it’s often recommended in combination with talk therapy. Some medicines are meant for short-term use, while others are prescribed for a longer period. Common medications include antidepressants, antianxiety medications, mood stabilizers, stimulants and others.
We will help you understand if medication is a good fit for you. If you’re seeing a psychiatrist, we also have a team of psychiatric nurses available by phone to help you manage your medications.
Lifestyle changes
While it may sound simple, another common treatment for mental health conditions involves making healthy lifestyle changes. Sometimes we don’t realize how our basic daily routine may be affecting our health. Combined with therapy or medication, specific changes to your sleep schedule, diet and/or exercise can improve your daily mental and physical health.
We may also recommend quitting smoking and cutting back on substances like caffeine and alcohol, which can make conditions worse. But you won’t be asked to make these changes alone. We’re here to offer guidance and support so lifestyle changes are easier to adopt and sustain long-term.
Transcranial magnetic stimulation
Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is used to treat patients with depression when other treatment options, like talk therapy and medication, haven’t worked. With TMS, magnetic pulses stimulate nerve cells in the part of the brain controlling the mood, which is often underactive in patients with depression. Your doctor will determine whether you are a candidate for TMS based on your history and diagnosis.
Our mental health experts
Our mental and behavioral health team includes the following specialists:
Primary care
Our primary care doctors, physician assistants and nurse practitioners can diagnose and treat anxiety and depression, and can also refer patients to one of our specialists if needed.
Psychiatrists
Psychologists
Therapists
Therapists are mental health specialists who work with patients to diagnose and relieve disorders, such as anxiety or compulsive behaviors, through a variety of psychological treatments. Mental health therapists vary by type of educational degree or practicing license. Examples include
If you haven’t talked to a doctor yet, we recommend scheduling an appointment with one of our primary care doctors, physician assistants or nurse practitioners. If you have a referral, please choose one of the options below to get started.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
The first appointment typically focuses on talking with us and helping you get answers. To help you feel prepared, here are some questions your doctor might ask:
- How long have you been feeling this way?
- What medications do you currently take?
- Have you been seeing any other mental health specialists?
- Are there any stressful changes in your environment or relationships?
- Have your eating and sleeping routines been affected?
After we talk with you, we’ll recommend a treatment plan so you can begin taking steps toward feeling better.
Our primary care doctors, physician assistants and nurse practitioners can provide help for common conditions like anxiety, depression and child attention deficit disorders. We may refer you to one of our mental health specialists. Our specialists can provide psychotherapy and treat more complex mental conditions like severe depression, eating disorders and bipolar disorder.
If the care you need requires the expertise of a specialist, your primary care doctor will still play an important role before, during and after connecting you to a specialist. Once you are feeling better we may suggest you return to your primary care doctor to manage your mental health treatment plan.
Your care team will work closely with you to develop the best treatment plan and ensure you have the support you need every step of the way.
As an organization, we’re helping
At HealthPartners and Park Nicollet, we take an integrated approach to treating mental health, utilizing the skills and experience of both our primary care doctors and mental and behavioral health specialists. We also facilitate a conversation around mental health with every person who walks through our clinic doors. We ask a number of questions to open up the dialogue around mental health and ensure we’re addressing our patients’ physical and emotional health equally.
If you or someone close to you needs help now, we have options.
If this is an emergency, please call 911. If you or someone you know is considering self-harm, please call the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at
Call for 24/7 help:
- For HealthPartners patients, please call
612-339-3663 or800-551-0859 - For Park Nicollet patients, please call your clinic directly. For help after business hours, call
952-993-4665 .
Walk In:
- Urgent care – Walk in and meet with a doctor at any of our 23 urgent care
locations in the Twin Cities and western Wisconsin. Open weekdays, weekends and some holidays with no appointment needed. - Emergency room – If you or someone you know needs emergency mental health care, visit the emergency room at
Regions Hospital , which specializes in mental and behavioral health.
At times, extra support is needed to cope with life’s stresses. We have multiple inpatient options available for those needs.
We accept most health insurance plans, including Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, CIGNA, HealthPartners, Medica, Medicare, PreferredOne and many others.
Not sure what your insurance covers? Call the number on the back of your card for help looking at your options.
Don’t have your card in front of you? Here are member services numbers to help you get started:
- HealthPartners:
800-883-2177 - Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota:
800-382-2000 - CIGNA:
800-244-6224 (insurance through work);866-494-2111 (insurance directly or through the Exchange) - Medica:
800-952-3455 - Medicare:
1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227 ) - PreferredOne:
763-847-4477 (in the Twin Cities);800-997-1750 (outside the metro area)
- United Healthcare:
877-842-3210