BIOChristina is working toward a degree in business management and believes that open-mindedness is the key to helping people.

I cannot express enough how important it is to maintain a good relationship with your mental health provider. Without the positive support of our providers, many of us would not make it through. However, it is not always easy to find a mental health provider that we can maintain a good relationship with. It has to be someone we feel comfortable with and who is open-minded to the things we have to say. When we do find the provider we "click" with, it takes work to maintain that good relationship.

One thing you can do to maintain a good relationship is to keep an open mind. We expect mental health providers to have a good relationship with us, so we need to reciprocate. They are the people who are going to tell us all the things we don't want to hear. This can put strain on a good relationship. All of a sudden we feel like they aren't listening or don't understand us but in reality they are the people who are on the outside looking in. They just may understand more than anyone else in our life does. But, if they are really off in terms of understanding what you are saying, explain what is going on to them in a different way instead of shutting down. This is part of finding that provider that you "click" with. If you are on the same page and feel comfortable with each other your mental health provider will try and understand instead of giving their opinion, telling you what and how you feel, then moving on to something else.

Another thing you can do to maintain a good relationship is to open up, refrain from lying. The only way you and your provider can have a trusting and comfortable relationship is if you tell them everything that is going on and everything you are feeling. This is hard sometimes, especially for anyone like me who is so used to hiding their emotions and thoughts because of everyone else's negativity or lack of concern. It's hard to trust the fact that this person is actually trying to help and not just tell you that you are fine and to get over it. The only way a mental health professional can help you is if you are completely honest and not embarrassed or shy about saying what is on your mind or what is going on in your life at that time. Your provider should be like your best friend, someone you can say anything to and confide in.

These two things will help you maintain a good relationship with your mental health provider. They may seem a lot simpler to do than they actually are, but maintaining good relationships takes work – any relationship does. To get the help you may need it is so important to make sure you find a provider you "click" with. Then it may not be so hard to keep that open mind and to open up to them.

BIOMartin R. is the Director of Youth MOVE Oregon and on the Pathways Advisory Committee.

It's not always easy to know what to expect when entering into therapy or other mental health services. One thing is for sure, you want to make the best of this time. If you are a gamer, you know to prestige or to level up takes a certain amount of research. Sure you could run around like a total newb and get owned, or you can figure out some tactics. Everyone loves tactics.

So first, we need a game plan. We know that coming prepared will not just help you get what you want, it will get you respect. Consider the following questions (Pro-Tip: Text yourself these answers so you can remember them or refer to them during a visit.)

• What do you want from these people, who say they want to help you? Assume that these people are going to have skills. Do you blow up and say things you don’t mean? Do you lose control of feelings of depression? Don't know how to connect with that special girl or guy?
• Do you skip a beat when putting in that Starbucks order? Nope, you know exactly what you like. So be ready to recite what exactly works for you and what doesn’t when it comes to your mental health treatment. Maybe you want a friend to accompany you; maybe you don't want a parent to be present. Talking about what works will help this professional do their job better.
• If you don't know where the finish line is, you shouldn't be in the race. It's important to know what success will look like for you. Be ready to have a conversation about how long treatment is expected to take.

Now that you have texted yourself those little tidbits, you are ready to have that first meeting. Remember that whoever you see is a person – just like you. They wake up, they go to sleep and they occasionally jay walk. If you can harness this time, and the energy they are willing to put forth – you will be able to conquer some issues that have been dragging you down. Don't be intimated: you are an expert on what you need.