How to Find a Therapist
How to Find a Therapist
One of the biggest barriers to care I hear about from clients is actually the first step of finding a therapist. I even experienced the difficulty of this process myself - when I moved from Chicago to South Florida years ago and needed to find a new counselor, I spent a considerable amount of time online and on the phone trying to find someone who had availability and took my insurance.
Oftentimes, when one picks up the phone to make an appointment or Googles “therapy near me,” they’re past the point of needing help - they really needed it a while ago, but life’s stressors pulled them away from being able to take the time to find a mental healthcare provider.
If this is you, or you’re looking for a provider for someone you love, I wanted to share a few quick steps to make your search easier.
Research, Contact, Commit
Research
Decide whether you plan to use insurance or pay out of pocket, as this will dictate how you search and filter your searches for a provider.
Utilize a website like Psychology Today where you can filter on many different criteria including insurance accepted, faith background, conditions treated, etc.
If you plan to use insurance, your insurance company likely has a directory of providers you can search through, as well
Choose 3-5 providers who you think might be a good fit to contact to check availability, insurance coverage, etc.
If you have specific preferences for a clinician, you can search for other organizations and databases of clinicians, as well. For example, the South Florida Association of Christian Counselors has a directory of Christian counselors if incorporating your faith into your therapy journey is important to you.
Contact
Next, you’ll need to decide how you’d like to connect with the providers you’ve chosen to see if they might be a good fit for you or your loved one to work with.
Call their office
Email their office
Request an initial appointment or consultation directly through their website
Commit
Put the appointment on your schedule and attend with an open mind. If you have fears about the counseling process, share them with your counselor! You’ve done a lot of work to get to this point - it’s time to take the intimidating but important step of starting the counseling process to transform your life.
Maryann Dernlan is the Owner and Founder of Replenish and Renew Counseling LLC that provides telehealth mental health counseling services across the state of Florida. She is a wife, mom, dance teacher, football fan, and is grateful to help others find healing through counseling.