How to Find the Right Provider
Therapy is not one-size-fits-all. Each person’s needs along the journey to mental wellness are unique. Some people want to laugh along the way and others need someone who can sit patiently while they cry. Some couples need direction and others need levity and grace. We know that the outcomes of therapy are only as good as the fit between client(s) and therapist and so we work hard, from the moment you call or email, to help you find a clinician who will be the sort of companion you need.
“Sweetgrass Psychological was formed from my vision to have a group practice setting in which therapy clients could come and receive excellent care based on their needs, while practitioners would feel supported and able to continue to grow on their journey toward brightness. I am, and always have been, rooted in a sense of community. When launching this practice, I envisioned a setting where vulnerability was met with grace, and expertise was balanced with never ending curiosity. I have hand selected a team of professionals who take seriously the investment in themselves, their clients, and their community. Here at Sweetgrass, we’re not just helping individuals, we are working to improve the mental wellness of all Montanans. The bulk of our new clients hear about us from current or former clients and we believe that this is the highest praise we can earn.” - Sara Boilen, owner and founder
At Sweetgrass, we have a variety of providers including social workers, counselors, psychologists and nurse practitioners. Our titles are representative of the training we have received. Psychologists hold doctoral degrees (the highest degree you can earn) in the field of psychology. They have done extensive training in the realm of clinical practice, assessment, research, and supervision. They are trained to be diagnosticians (a fancy way of saying they are good at figuring out what is going on with someone) and skilled interventionists (they know how to help people get better). Social Workers are trained both in clinical skills and community improvement. Their training, which typically occurs over three years including supervised training and experience, provides them with a thorough understanding of the human condition both on an individual level and a macro level. They are effective therapists and are also well-versed in complicated systems that they can help others navigate. Counselors are Master’s level practitioners (meaning they attended an additional two years, at least, of school, past college) whose education focused on clinical skills. They are trained to be good at helping clients navigate their lives and understand themselves better. Nurse Practitioners are independent medical practitioners with robust medical training in the human body and illness. Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners receive extensive additional coursework and supervised experience in the mental health realm. They can prescribe medications and support folks in understanding and improving the links between their physical and mental health. Licensed Addictions Counselors are practitioners who have sought additional training and licensure in the field of addictive behaviors. This means that they can not only work with individuals struggling with addiction or substance use but they can provide court-mandated assessments and treatments if needed. Some practitioners at Sweetgrass are pre-licensed. This means that they are working under the supervision of another clinical to grow and deepen their skills. Many practitioners working under supervision are highly skilled, incredibly empathic and compassionate, and may be a good fit regardless of their training status.
