How to Find a Therapist

What to Look For When Finding a Therapist

When you are looking for a therapist, it is important to have an idea of what your concerns are and to make sure the therapist you find has training or experience in that area. It is also crucial to consider insurance and payment before getting started, as some therapists can be a great fit but be out of network, thus costing several hundred dollars a session.

Above all else, it is important that you feel comfortable with your therapist. Many offer a free consult session or phone call, so it is encouraged you take advantage of that. Even if they check off all the items you are looking for but your sessions don’t feel meaningful, it is perfectly acceptable to look for someone else until you feel that you have a great personality fit and that you see results.

What Qualities Are Most Important in a Therapist?

The qualities that are important to look for in a therapist include someone who is creating a safe space, who is trusting and upholds confidentiality, and who exhibits that they are not passing judgment, making comparisons, or have a sense of superiority. Therapy is vulnerable, so feeling like you are being heard and understood is important, as well as feeling that your therapist is invested in your growth.

Understanding Professional Labels & Licenses

There are many different types of mental health professionals you can see, including:

• Psychologist: Has a doctorate degree (Psy.D.) and can diagnose mental health disorders, however they cannot prescribe medication.
• Psychiatrist: Has a medical degree (MD, DO) and can diagnose and prescribe.
• LCSW: A masters-level independent psychotherapist who works with individuals, families and groups and may use a variety of therapy modalities.
• LADC: A specialized counselor who treats addiction.
• Marriage & Family Therapist: A masters-level independent psychotherapist who works with individuals and families in talk therapy using behavioral techniques.
• Counselor/LPC: A masters-level independent psychotherapist who works with individuals, families, and groups in talk therapy to address general mental health concerns.

Don’t Wait If You’re In a Crisis

If you or someone you know is desperate or may be going to hurt themselves or others, you can call 911, go to the emergency room, and/or utilize the suicide hotline (988). Crisis situations can make it harder to receive help, so do not wait until a crisis to get help. Rather, get help sooner and come up with a safety plan with a therapist if you or someone you love does end up in crisis. A safety plan gives everyone time to get to the person in crisis to the necessary supports before there is any harm done.

How to Find a Therapist

Here are nine places to find a therapist:

1. Ask People You Know & Trust

Check with friends, family members, or coworkers. Many may be in therapy themselves and can offer recommendations. Others may know of good therapists in your area or know of resources to connect you with therapists.

Insights from people you respect and trust can be a helpful starting point, but you’ll still want to do some exploring on your own, as each person is unique. Just as teachers have students who connect with and learn well from them and students who do not, so do therapists. You are unique, so your own experience with a given therapist may be different from a trusted friend’s experience. Word of mouth can give you some names to look into, but to be sure that a recommended therapist is right for you, request an initial consultation to meet them before beginning therapy.

2. Check With Your Insurance Company

A growing number of insurance providers cover mental health care. They typically have restrictions and a limited list of in-network therapists, though. If you want therapy to be at least partially paid for by insurance, you’ll be required to follow their guidelines. If this is the case, your insurance company is the best starting point for you to find a therapist. Your insurance company will provide a list of approved mental health service providers. Use this list of names to begin exploring your options. Know that if you don’t feel that any of these therapists are right for you, you can seek help elsewhere. Your insurance just won’t cover the cost.

3. Use an Online Therapist Directory

An online therapist directory can help you find a therapist in your area. After answering a few simple questions to help narrow your search, you have the option to search for a therapist by credentials or specialty, or you can let experts help you select a therapist. Watch videos to learn more about a therapist and glimpse their personality and interaction style, and when you find one you’d like to work with, you can even schedule your first appointment straight from the directory.

4. Ask Your Regular Doctor for a Referral

Many mental health difficulties cause physical symptoms in the body.¹
It’s always a good idea to have physical symptoms evaluated by a doctor to rule out any underlying medical condition (the chest pains that often accompany anxiety could signal a heart condition, or the fatigue of depression could be related to a thyroid problem). Once medical conditions are ruled out or treated, your doctor can refer you to a mental health therapist.

Doctors have insights into other professionals in their community, plus if you’ve worked with this doctor for some time, they may know a bit about your personality and might have a recommendation for a good fit.

Even if you aren’t suspicious that a medical condition is at work, you can still make an appointment with your doctor to discuss your concerns and ask for a recommendation to a therapist. Sometimes, this is a helpful step in securing insurance coverage for therapy (all policies vary, so check with your company’s website or call the number on the back of your card to determine if mental health therapy is covered and under what conditions).

5. Use a University Program

If you live near a university with a graduate program in counseling or psychology, one affordable therapy option may be to receive therapy from a supervised master’s student. Once graduate students reach the upper level of their program, they offer limited therapy as part of their education requirements. By this stage, they have attained a proper level of schooling to do so and are learning to apply their knowledge. Check the school’s website to see what services they offer.

While you can be assured that graduate students are knowledgeable, offer quality mental health services, and are guided by a supervisor, they are limited in the assistance they can provide. If you are experiencing severe challenges or have a serious mental illness (a mental, emotional, or behavior disorder that causes impairment or disability), services provided by students through their university will likely be insufficient.¹

6. Visit Local Mental Health Organizations

Mental health organizations or services in your area, such as the National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI), Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA), or others typically have a wealth of resources available in your community, including contact information for local therapists.

People who volunteer or work for these organizations often have insights into different therapists in the area that they can share with you, too, such as therapists who are particularly good for issues similar to what you are experiencing. As with recommendations from friends and family, though, know that each person’s experience with a therapist is unique, so what one person calls a “bad” therapist might be considered to be a “great” therapist by someone else.

7. Check Community Centers

Community centers, libraries, clinics, and hospitals are often useful sources of local information. Many have displays with brochures or bulletin boards with business cards. You might find names of therapists in your area as well as their contact information. Check these regularly, as the displayed information can change.

8. Talk to Your Faith Leader

If you belong to a religious organization, ask your faith leader if he or she has recommendations. Some have many community connections, including therapists, because people often consult them when facing difficulties.

Know that the information offered by religious leaders may be limited because their primary function is not to connect people to resources. Also, names you receive might be fellow members of your religious organization. Consider whether you’d be comfortable seeing someone from your church, synagogue, temple, or mosque. You might like talking with a professional of the same faith and receiving christian or faith-based counseling; however, you might not be comfortable talking about personal matters with someone you see regularly in this context.

9. Access Government Resources

Go to your state or county government website and search for the health department (simply search “state [or county] health department resources” in your browser if you don’t know the exact website). Often, they have listings of mental health providers or organizations. Many of these, though, are government-funded rather than private practice. While this isn’t an indication of quality of care, there may be restrictions on who they see or conditions treated. Never assume that you won’t qualify for a service, but instead check with a therapist’s organization or office.

What If I Don’t Have Insurance?

If you do not have insurance, there are many programs sponsored by states and local cities you may qualify for. Low cost, sliding scale, or even free services can be available for some for a limited time. If a therapist offers their services at a lower cost, it should say so on their website or directory listing. Working with student interns can also be a good way to get support, as student interns don’t tend to have a high fee, if any fee at all.

What If I Can’t Find Anyone Locally?

If you are unable to find someone locally who fits your needs, online therapy can be a good option. There are many therapists who can provide telehealth and may be a better fit for you and can work around your schedule. There are several online therapy options that you can explore to find the best fit for your needs.

5 Important Tips for Finding the Right Therapist

While finding a therapist can feel intimidating, it can really help to know what you want out of therapy, and determine who you would feel most comfortable working with. You may also want to do a bit of research into what type of therapy would be most beneficial for you.

Here are five tips for finding the best fit when you’re looking for a therapist:

1. Know Yourself

The relationship you have with your therapist is the biggest factor for success in therapy.^3,4 You know the types of people who make you feel comfortable and those that keep you on edge. Listen to yourself when you first meet a therapist. While of course you’ll become more at ease as sessions progress, feeling instant like or dislike is an important signal to listen to when finding a therapist.

You may also want to find a therapist who is familiar with your identity. This can be especially important for those who identify as LGBTQIA+, BIPOC, or Latinx.

2. Know What You Want From Therapy

Understanding your reasons for wanting to work with a therapist will help you narrow down your search. Therapists frequently specialize in certain problems like anxiety or depression, and often they have a unique approach to therapy. Knowing what you want—even if you have no idea how to get there (that’s what therapy is for)—can help you choose the right therapist.

You don’t have to have any answers, but asking yourself some questions can help you determine which therapists to consider.

Here are some questions to consider before you start therapy:⁵

• What issues are you currently experiencing, and how are they affecting you? Are you overwhelmed? Do you feel helpless? Sad? Worried? Fearful? Angry? Regretful? Stuck?
• What aspects of your daily life are the most difficult?
• Do you have behaviors that are getting in your way or interfering in your relationships?
• What do you want your life to be like when these problems are resolved or are lessened?

3. Know What Type of Therapy You’re Looking For

It can be helpful to find a therapist who specializes in challenges similar to yours. Often, this means locating a therapist who offers a specific type of therapy.

Here are a few popular types of therapy and what they’re best suited to help with:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) helps people identify and change negative thought patterns that contribute to problems like depression or anxiety.
• Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) is another approach useful for anxiety, depression, and a variety of other mental health challenges that involves learning to separate yourself from challenges, accept situations rather than struggling against them, understanding yourself, living mindfully, and taking committed action toward goals.
• Psychodynamic therapy explores people’s backgrounds and inner workings, such as subconscious beliefs that may be interfering in life, your sense of who you are, and relationships.
• Solution-focused therapy helps people overcome specific obstacles by setting goals and defining action steps to accomplish those goals.

This is only a partial list to highlight that there are different approaches to helping people overcome obstacles and thrive. When you know what you want from therapy, you can ask potential therapists if they specialize in the challenges you are facing.

According to Sean F. Taylor, MS, LMFT, LAC, founder and director of Cornerstone Christian Counseling, “There is a lot of great information out there, but also know that just seeing a therapist can help you find the best type for you! That’s one of the benefits of counseling, if you don’t know what your struggles are related to (or don’t know where to start), a good therapist will guide you through determining the best modality to help you and will even help you find a referral if you need a specific modality.”

4. Do a Phone Consultation First

When you call, you can ask any questions you have, such as whether they have helped people with similar concerns and the nuts and bolts of how their therapy works (such as number, length, and frequency of sessions). It is often possible and encouraged to make an appointment for an initial consultation, which can happen via phone, video chat, or in person. This allows you to interact with a potential therapist and determine if their personality and demeanor fit your style.

Taylor states, “I encourage you to take the time to consider a few therapists before choosing one. And don’t be afraid to change therapists if they turn out to not be a good fit. One of the best ways to ensure you actually reach your goals in therapy is that you, 1) feel understood by your therapist and, 2) believe they have the expertise to help you get from where you are to where you ultimately want to be.”

5. Prepare for Your First Session

There are lots of ways that you can prepare for your first appointment so you feel ready to get the most out of your therapy sessions. Making a list of topics you want to explore and questions you want to ask can help you feel less anxious about this appointment. Your therapist will likely talk to you about what specific challenges you’re facing, any life circumstances that may have contributed to them, how long you’ve been dealing with them, and what you’ve been doing to deal with them up until now.

Scheduling Your Appointment

Once you have completed the process of finding a therapist, build on your momentum and schedule your first appointment or initial consultation. In some cases you can book an appointment online, but often, you call the office to schedule your appointment. When you call, you can also ask about their financial policy: their cost, if they offer a sliding fee scale, whether they accept your insurance, and if they require payment at the time of service or if they offer payment plans.

The first consultation or session will involve information gathering so you and your therapist can begin to get to know each other. While therapy is a process that takes more than one session, leaving that first appointment feeling a sense of hope and optimism is a sign that you’ve indeed found the right therapist for you.