How To Find A Great Therapist
So, you’ve made that decision to start going to counseling. First of all, YAY! That decision by itself is huge and I’m sure not one that you came to lightly. Lots of thinking, and thinking, and thinking some more. Yes, no, maybe, I don’t know, ok fine, I’ll call somebody.
But, you’ve made that decision to go to counseling and now you’re ready for step 2. Actually finding the counselor. So, you do what any red blooded American does when they want to find out information. You go to Google. Ahh, Google. It solves so many problems, except when it creates more. Because you when you search counselors in *your town,* 65,200 results pop up (actual real life numbers for my town when I just tested it ) and you immediately close the tab because that is way too much information. You might already be feeling overwhelmed at the idea of seeing a counselor. So, the mere thought of sorting through 65,200 pages just sends you over the edge and you just give up. Ok, yeah, I totally get that.
But, before you give up, I want to give you some ideas on where you can get connected to some really great therapists.
Ways to Find a Therapist In Your City or Town
Therapy marketing websites (Psychology Today, Good Therapy, Therapy Den, etc)
These are great websites to search for therapists. They are kind of like dating websites in that therapists create a profile about themself or their practice and then you can read and pick which one sounds good to you. Many will let you filter by specific mental health concerns (depression, anxiety, PTSD), insurances accepted, therapist gender, or treatment modality so you can specifically narrow down the list that comes up. I always started with these websites when looking for therapy referrals when I worked in the hospital and made some great connections there. These sites will provide all the contact information you need to get connected with some great therapists in your area.
Reaching out to your PCP
Part of your PCP’s job is to connect you to specialty resources. So, you can always check with him or her to see if they have specific referrals. Many times, they might refer you to their corporation's behavioral health center or they will give you contacts in the community to search. You can always get the referral information from your PCP and enter it in one of the therapy sites mentioned above to learn more about the therapist. However, not all therapists are listed on these sites, so just keep that in mind.
Ask your friends, your hairdresser, your child’s friend’s mom or your neighbor
I promise you, in 2021 many people around you are going to counseling. However, most people don’t broadcast that information on Facebook or Instagram so you can’t search their pages to see who they might be working with. But, if they have a good therapist, they might be willing to share that person’s name and information with you. So, dig up that courage and ask your friends.
Search the internet with specific words
Again, searching for counselor in *your town* is way too broad. Narrow it down. For example, search anxiety counselor in *your town* or couples therapist in *your zip code.* Many therapists build their websites and profiles to include these keywords so you can connect with them. This search will bring you to the therapy marketing sites I talked about above as well as therapist-owned websites so you can read all about them and make a connection.
Reach out to your insurance company
Many therapists are credentialed with insurance companies and are usually listed on the company’s website. However, information is limited on the insurance company’s site, so just find the name and then Google search to find more information.
Once you’ve gotten a few names, its time to reach out to them and schedule a time for a consultation. Many therapists allow you to schedule this online or by calling their office to set it up. Consultations are often free and will allow you a chance to speak to the therapist commitment-free so you can get a vibe from the counselor. You can schedule a consultation with several different therapists to allow yourself the opportunity to make a good decision for yourself. So, if the first consultation flops for you, don’t feel like you *have* to make an appointment with that person. No one therapist is a fit for every person so it is perfectly ok to hold off on scheduling the next appointment with someone you don’t click with. You can feel free to ask questions that help you make a decision. Notice how your body feels during this conversation and trust your gut to lead you in the right direction.
Questions To Ask Potential Therapists (if you cannot find information on their website)
Do you have a license to practice in your state?
How many years have you been in practice?
How much experience do you have working with *my area of concern*?
What is your specialty or area of expertise?
What kinds of treatments do you use in treating *my area of concern*?
What insurances do you accept?
Do I need to pay you first and then be reimbursed by my insurance company or do you bill the insurance company directly?
What is your availability for sessions?
The therapist also uses this consultation to make sure they are a good fit for you so they will ask you certain questions to make that decision. Once you and the therapist determine you are a good fit for each other, they will then schedule a time for the assessment so they can get to know more about you and your needs.
So, now its time to go out there and find your therapist. You can respond in the comments below if there are any other tips you’ve found helpful in searching for a therapist. I’d love to hear them.
Until next time,
Amber