13 Dec Five Steps To Find A Therapist That Fits Your Needs | Issa Counseling
Introduction
If you’re looking for how to find the right therapist, it means you’ve decided to start therapy. That’s a huge step, and you should be very proud of yourself. But now you have to choose a therapist, which can feel overwhelming. It’s an important decision, but while it takes work, it doesn’t have to be painful. This article lays out the steps of the process and gives you some questions to ask yourself, and potential therapists, to make sure you find the right fit. How well you fit with your therapist is one of the most important factors in the effectiveness of treatment, so it’s critical that you take the time to find someone who fulfills your needs.
Step 1: Self-Reflection
Here are some questions to ask yourself when thinking about what you’re looking for in a therapist:
- Why do you want to go to therapy? Are there specific issues you need to work through? Are you feeling depressed, anxious, restless, angry, or discontent? Are you struggling with a diagnosed mental health disorder? If so, you may have more specific needs that you want to be aware of. Figuring out what is motivating you to reach out will help you find the right person.
- What qualities do you find important in a therapist? Certain factors may be important to you, such as their gender, their age, if they use religion in their treatment, if they are affirming of your identity, if they support the LGBT+ community, or if they are familiar with disability.
- Do you have a preferred therapeutic style? You may know nothing about what style of therapy works best for you, or you may have something you want to try. You don’t have to know, but it can help to do a little research about different methods of therapy. Here is a non-exhaustive list of some basic therapy modalities if you want to learn more: https://thelightprogram.pyramidhealthcarepa.com/common-types-outpatient-counseling-adults/
Step 2: Searching For A Therapist
You can find a therapist in a number of ways. You can ask friends and family, though remember that a therapy relationship is very individualized, so what worked for someone else might not work for you. But this can still be a good place to start for referrals. You can also simply Google search “therapists that specialize in [issue] in [city]”. But remember: a therapist cannot practice outside the state they are licensed in, so location is important. Online directories will often have pictures and bios of each therapist as well as their specialties; you can find some links to directories later in this post. If you plan to use insurance, you should go to your insurance company’s website and see which therapists are covered under your network.
Step 3: Learn What To Look For
These are some factors that you want to look for when you talk to a therapist during your consultation call and through your first few sessions. Paying attention to these factors will help ensure that you find someone you can have a positive therapeutic relationship with.
- Comfort: While clicking with someone takes time, feeling a basic sense of comfort is important. If you feel uneasy around them, and it’s not just general nerves, then they may not be right for you.
- Communication: You should feel like they understand you and the ways you explain your thoughts and feelings. Good communication with your therapist is critical, so you want to be sure you feel understood and that your communication styles mesh.
- Licensed: While this is not a guarantee of quality, practicing without a license as a counselor is illegal and unethical. Some letters to look for: LPC (licensed practicing counselor), LCSW (licensed clinical social worker), LMFT (licensed marriage and family therapist), LCDC (licensed chemical dependency counselor), LMHC (licensed mental health counselor). Specific letters may differ by state.
It might take a session or two to get comfortable with each other, so if you’re not sure about any of these factors, it’s alright to try a session with the therapist before you decide. The therapist understands the need for a good fit, so if you are not clicking, they will understand. If you feel like something is wrong, it’s important to trust yourself; intuition is key in this process. Remember: a therapist who seems condescending, rude, distracted, bored with you or your issues, or who talks more than they listen will not fit your needs or promote a healthy growth-orientated relationship.
Step 4: Make The Consultation Call
Once you’ve found a few therapists who look like they might be what you need, it’s time to make some calls. These are short 15-20 minute conversations you have with a therapist to ask questions, give them a little information, and start to get a feel for whether they are a good fit. Be forewarned that you might have to leave a voicemail; therapists are often in session. So be prepared to leave a brief message with your name, your phone number, and a very short description of what you’re looking for. They should call you back within the next few days, and then you can do the short consultation. Remember that this is not a therapy session; this is a chance for you both to get some basic information.
Some questions to ask during the call:
- What kind of experience do they have with your specific issue?
- What does their therapy method look like? They may use specific terms, or they may just describe their process. If they use a term you aren’t familiar with, it’s perfectly fine to ask for clarification.
- How do they conduct sessions? Are their sessions in their office, online, or do they do a mix of both?
- How do they schedule? What kind of availability do they have? What are their scheduling policies?
- What is their cost? Do they take insurance? Many therapists don’t, so if you need that make sure to ask.
- Do they offer a sliding scale? If you can’t afford their standard rates, you can ask about a sliding scale, which creates a rate based on client income. Some therapists have this option while others don’t, but it’s okay to ask. Just be sure to respect their policies.
Step 5: Schedule Your Appointment
Now that you’ve thought about your specific needs, done your research, and conducted a few consultation calls, you are ready to schedule your first appointment. Make sure to attend your appointment, but remember, one appointment does not mean you are committed to that therapist forever. Talk to them, get comfortable with the process, and continue reflecting on whether the relationship feels right. Be open with your therapist about what’s working and what’s not. If you end up not feeling right, it’s okay to end the relationship and look elsewhere. If you do find someone you click with, who understands and helps you, then congratulations! You have started on a path that will lead to growth and healing.
If you are looking for a therapist who specializes in trauma, post-traumatic stress disorder, substance abuse, or anxiety and depression, please schedule a consultation with Issa Counseling to see if we might be the right fit for you.
Resources For Finding Therapists
Some online databases you can use include: The American Psychological Association Psychologist Directory and Locator https://locator.apa.org, The Anxiety and Depression Association of America Therapist Finder, https://members.adaa.org/page/FATMain, The Psychology Today Therapy Directory https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists. You can also search your insurance company’s website to find out which doctors in the area are in your network. You can then search online to find out more.
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