How to find a therapist that is right for you
Finding a therapist can be a difficult process. It can be even tougher to find a therapist that you feel is a good fit for you. This article is going to discuss things you may want to consider when finding a therapist. There is also information included about different methods of locating a therapist.
Consider these factors when looking for a Mental Health Therapist
Virtual or In-person Appointments
It is important to decide whether meeting with your therapist in person is important to you. If you are wanting to go into the office for your appointments, then make sure that the therapist you are searching for has at least a hybrid schedule.
A hybrid schedule is when the therapist schedules some of their therapy appointments online, as well as in person. There are both advantages and disadvantages to both in person and virtual appointments.
Location
Some virtual therapists need to be located in the same state as you to provide telehealth appointments. Confirm that your therapist is able to see you where you are located if you are doing telehealth. If you are wanting in person appointments, it is helpful to consider whether you are able to reasonably commute to the practice location.
Insurance & Affordability
If you are using your insurance to pay for therapy, it is helpful to confirm whether your therapist is in-network with your insurance. You can determine this by contacting the therapist you potentially want to start treatment with. Most clinicians also have the insurance they accept listed on their website. You can verify whether your insurance policy covers therapy services and what your copay/co-insurance will be by calling the number on the back of your insurance card.
If you are not using insurance and are paying out of pocket for your appointments– it is important to consider the amount you are willing to pay for each session. Typically therapy starts out at a weekly frequency, so this may be a fee that you pay on a weekly basis for services. Some clinicians offer a superbill if they are out of network with your insurance. A superbil is a document that you receive from your therapist, that you submit to your insurance for reimbursement. While other therapists provide a sliding scale for those who need it. A sliding scale is an adjustable fee based on a patient’s income level.
Treatment Specialties & Approaches
It is helpful to look for therapists that indicate that they treat the concerns that you are wanting to address. If you are looking to work with your partner on relationship issues, you would want to look for a therapist who works with couples. If you want to address symptoms related to a trauma you experienced, you may want to look for a therapist who is trained in an approach that is specific to treating trauma.
Safety and Comfortability
Consider what you would need to feel safe and comfortable. It may be helpful to think about “what do I really need out of this experience?”. It is perfectly okay to have a few sessions with a therapist before deciding if this is safe and comfortable space for you. For those who have been in therapy before, consider what you liked and disliked about prior experiences.
Methods of finding a therapist
Now that we have thought about some of the criteria we are looking for in a therapist, let’s talk about different avenues for finding a therapist.
Search Engines
You can find therapists in your area by heading to google, or another search engine, and typing in “therapists near me” or “counseling in your area”. For example typing in “Therapists in Jackson, Michigan” will bring up a list of therapists for that area.
Google will have a list of therapists and some will even have reviews. This method of finding a therapist can be helpful, as it quickly pulls up local therapists and their contact information. Though, it tends to be a broad list depending on what you enter into the search engine.
Therapist Directories
Psychology Today and Mental Health Match are two examples of therapy directories. Mental health professionals will list their services on directories to assist patients with finding a clinician that is best suited for them. In these directories you can narrow down potential therapists by
Location
Accepted Insurances
Types of concerns they work with (such as Anxiety, ADHD, Trauma, etc.)
& other criteria
Referrals
Many people find comfort in receiving a referral from one of their other healthcare providers. A primary care doctor, or even a specialist, often has a trusted referral list they can give to their patients.
Friends and family can provide referrals to a therapist they have had a good experience with and have found helpful. Some employers also have Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) that will provide short-term counseling and referrals to therapy.
Health Insurance Website
Most health insurance companies have a search engine on their website where you can find a therapist that accepts your insurance. For example, for people who have Blue Cross Blue Shield or Blue Care Network–you can go to the Blue Cross Blue Shield website and click on Find Care. You can narrow down your search by location and radius.
You have found a therapist and want to connect with them
You have considered what you are looking for in a therapist and found a few that you might want to set up an appointment with. You may want to set up a consultation call to determine if they might be a good therapy fit.
Consultation Calls
Therapists often offer 10-15 minute consultation calls. Consultation calls are typically a phone conversation with the clinician where you discuss the reason you are seeking therapy and questions you may have about therapy with this particular clinician. Consultation calls can be helpful if you are unsure about whether the therapist might be a good fit for you or if you have any questions about what counseling would be like with that clinician.
If you are wondering if you would be a good therapy fit with me at Create Wellness Counseling, complete the contact form and request a consultation call to discuss further.
