Tips for Finding A Therapist
I’ve had a ton of people reach out to me lately saying that 2021 is the “year of therapy!” But then they’re like, “okay how though?” If you’ve never done therapy before it can be a really daunting process. So, I thought I’d put together all of the tips I tell people when they ask me in case you or someone you know has been wondering the same.
FINDING A THERAPIST 101
Do your research. There are many sites out there where you can find amazing therapists. Psychology Today is the OG. You can search by zip code (if you’re a forward thinker for when life goes back to normal) or search by specialty or the issue you want to work on. BUT you don’t NEED a specific issue to go to therapy, I promise. There are also sites like ZocDoc & Alma that can be helpful too! (There are also a lot of new & shiny tech start ups in this space that I’m weary of, so I say stick with the aforementioned because I know they’re legit.) Read up on therapist profiles and see if anyone stands out to you.
Reach out to a few people: email them and ask for a 15-minute consultation call. These are free (or they should be — so red flag if they’re not). In that call you can get a feel for whether or not you’re comfortable talking to this person. The MOST important thing is that you feel like you can have a real relationship with the therapist on the other end of the phone. Also, don’t be nervous for these calls— we’re used to them and can take the lead if you need!
The payment question: ask the therapist if they take your insurance. A lot of private practitioners don’t take in-network insurance, but don’t count them out completely if finances are an issue for you. I have a lot of clients who use OON insurance benefits and after they reach their deductible they have a really reasonable fee week-to-week. Also, keep in mind that this person might be one of the most important investments you make in yourself!
3 Part 2: Insurance Questions If you have no idea what your insurance covers: get out your card, call the number on the back and ask these questions (I stole these from an older & wiser colleague):
Does your plan include “in-network” or “out-of-network” coverage for mental health?
What is your annual deductible for mental health benefits? What have you spent toward that deductible so far?
What percentage of the fee for session does the plan cover once the deductible is met?
Is there a limit on the number of sessions your plan will cover per year?
Try someone out: Once all of those unpleasantries are done with (can you tell I hate insurance companies?) pick someone and try them out. Not into any of them? Get back to #1. BE PATIENT. Even if you choose someone and do a few sessions with them, it might not be a good fit. You may have to shop around a bit, and that’s the hardest part of the process! But definitely don’t stick with someone out of convenience if it feels like you’re not making any progress. You want someone who will listen, validate, and challenge you when appropriate. If you feel like the therapist will judge you, you might want to tell them that and have a conversation about why. Give them a chance to work through the tension before you jump ship. We therapists want you to find the right fit as much as you want to find someone, so include us in the conversation before you ghost.
Don’t give up!!!!! Once you find someone, they could be your go-to mental health supporter for years. Do you give up on love after a few bad dates? NO. (Or I hope not, but if you do then you should definitely not repeat this behavior pattern with a therapist!) Sometimes it takes time to find the right person, but you gotta stick with it.
I hope this helps if you were thinking of finding a therapist but are too overwhelmed by the process. And feel free to reach out if you have any further questions!