Finding a Therapist 101
Finding a Therapist 101
Written by: Janine ChengPublished on September 17, 2024Finding a therapist is hard.
The logistical barriers are numerous-from navigating insurance, to negotiating scheduling, to finding the right fit. Each one of these obstacles can dissuade prospective patients from getting the support they need. With that in mind, below are some suggestions to get you started.
Know where to look
There are numerous platforms you can use to search for a treatment provider. Use any of them to be matched with a therapist and schedule your first session. Keep in mind that not all of these directories are created equal; they are designed to provide differing levels of service. For instance, platforms like Betterhelp and Talkspace that advertise 24/7 accessibility and text therapy are geared towards the provision of counseling rather than intensive mental health treatment.
Therapist directories/platforms for therapy provision:
Psychology Today offers a comprehensive database of providers you can filter through based on insurance, location, price, gender, speciality, etc.
Zocdoc allows you to search for providers who accept your insurance and have ongoing availability in your immediate area.
Therapy for Latinx provides resources for the Latinx community to heal, thrive, and become advocates for their own mental health.
Therapy for Black Girls is an online space dedicated to encouraging the mental wellness of Black women and girls.
My Wellbeing is a platform that matches patients with providers based on your needs, preferences, schedule and providers’ style and speciality | No insurance accepted.
Headway matches you with a therapist who fits your needs and accepts your insurance. 24/7 Support Available.
Monarch connects therapy seekers to the help they need, when they need it.
Inclusive Therapists offers a safer, simpler way to find a culturally responsive, social justice-oriented therapist.
Octave provides high quality, personalized care for every aspect of your well-being. Book a free consultation to get started. Free Consult Call.
Alma offers support with matching you with a therapist and provides ongoing support with insurance checks and scheduling.
Tia is a modern medical home for women that provides mental health services based on your needs. Insurance accepted. | $15 membership fee
Training Institutes:
Training institutes provide ongoing, intensive training opportunities to therapists seeking to expand their areas of expertise. While in training, these providers offer services at a sliding scale.This is a good option for patients who may not currently be insured or are interested in receiving a specific type of treatment, i.e. psychoanalysis, gestalt therapy, family therapy, etc.
Training Institute for Mental Health
Institute for Contemporary Psychotherapy
Ackerman Institute for the Family
Gestalt Center for Psychotherapy and Training
Be prepared once you are matched
Many therapists will offer you a free 15 minute phone consultation to assess for goodness of fit. If this is not offered, I encourage you to ask for it.
Schedule as many of these consultation calls as you are able. Exposure to different treatment providers, their style, tone, background and expertise will support you in feeling confident in your final decision.
Questions your prospective therapist will likely ask
Have you been in therapy before? What brings you to treatment? What are you looking to achieve? What are you looking for in a provider?
Have an idea of how you plan to answer the above questions so as to maximize your 15 minutes. Think about the type of approaches you might respond to and share these thoughts with your prospective provider. Do you respond well to someone who is directive? Do you want a provider who will give you homework assignments in between sessions or who might have a more laid back approach? Do you want someone who shares your cultural background?
Come prepared with your own questions as well
Have you had experience working with patients suffering from the same symptoms as me? How do you address cultural differences in the treatment space? What training do you have that lends itself to my clinical needs? What is your experience working with patients in non-monogamous relationships?
Do your research
If you are living with a mental health condition that has previously been diagnosed by another provider, consider researching the gold standard of treatment for said condition. For instance, the gold standard of treatment for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is Exposure with Response Prevention (ERP) or Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for Anxiety. With this background, you can then search for providers who have this specific training and expertise.
After you’ve started therapy
Remember that, like with any other relationship, this one may take some work. The space you share with your therapist is an excellent forum to practice skills you may struggle with in your personal, professional and romantic life. For instance, if you have difficulty with confrontation, articulating your needs, maintaining boundaries, you have the opportunity to practice each one of these skills with your therapist. Share your thoughts about how you feel treatment is progressing and whether you may respond better to different approaches. If you’ve provided feedback and still feel as though you aren’t reaching your goals in the way you would like to, do not be afraid to seek another treatment provider.
Citations:
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Baniassadi A, Manor B, Yu W, Travison T, Lipsitz L. (2023). Nighttime ambient temperature and sleep in community-dwelling older adults. Sci Total Environ. PMID: 37474050; PMCID: PMC10529213.
Cho Y, Ryu SH, Lee BR, Kim KH, Lee E, Choi J. (2015). Effects of artificial light at night on human health: A literature review of observational and experimental studies applied to exposure assessment. Chronobiol Int. PMID: 26375320.
Elder GJ, Ellis JG, Barclay NL, Wetherell MA. (2016). Assessing the daily stability of the cortisol awakening response in a controlled environment. BMC Psychol. doi: 10.1186/s40359-016-0107-6. PMID: 26818772; PMCID: PMC4730747.
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