How to Find the Right Therapist

Learn how to pick the best and right therapist, maximize your therapy or counseling sessions, and assess your progress in the treatment process. 

Therapy is considered a reliable and effective cure for many emotional and mental issues. Just talking about your feelings and thoughts with a supportive individual can make you feel good and uplift yourself. It can be very healing to voice your issues and talk about things weighing on your mind. It really feels good to be listened to know that somebody cares about you and likes to provide support.

It is very useful and supportive to discuss your issues to family members and close friends; sometimes, you want the support that people around you cannot give. If you want extra help, an outside perspective, or some professional assistance, talking to a counselor or therapist can help a lot.  While the help of family members and friends is vital, therapy is a little bit different. Counselors or therapists are professionally trained and expert listeners who are able to assists you in getting to the main cause of your problems, overcome emotional challenges as well as make good changes in life.

It is vital to look for a reliable and right therapist with whom your feel at ease. After all, you may discuss the uncomfortable subject or even sharing something you have never told to parents and friends.

There are many therapists today working with an extensive array of practices and methods. Therefore, the question how will you know that you are getting the right one? Here are some of the techniques that assist you in picking someone who tends to be a perfect match for you.

Interview Many Therapists

It is highly recommended to meet with at least three therapists. Some therapists provide free consultations; others charge a minimal fee for a consultation. In any case, it’s worth spending a little amount upfront to look for the right therapist.

Check Provider Directory

Are you planning to pay for your therapy via an insurance plan? If so, you may check your insurance plan provider. It is also a smart idea to know if the plan restricts the number of sessions you are able to attend yearly and if using an out-of-network counselor will have an impact to the expense.

Ask Friends or Family Members

Today, going to a therapist has become more socially acceptable than before. Asking for assistance shouldn’t be viewed as a weakness. If your friends or family members are willing to suggest a therapist, they have an amazing experience with odds are they are a good therapist.

Try Dependable Online Database

A lot of mental health institutions keep up-to-date, easy-to-access databases of licensed therapists. So, the search could begin simply by typing in the ZIP code to come up with a list of therapists in the locality. Also, you can search for counselors, like family and marriage therapists or counselors who focus on alcohol and drug abuse.

Some renowned and popular tools to try include:

• America Association of Marriage and Family Therapists
• American Psychological Association
• Association of LGBTQ+ Psychiatrists.
• Navigate Local Resources

Community is also considered a good resource to find a good therapist.  For students, your school may offer access to counseling centers.  If you are employed, then human resources may provide lists of counselors available in a workplace wellness.

If you want counseling associated with sexual or domestic abuse, you can find individual or group therapy in a local advocacy or organization.

Online Therapy App

There are tools that can assist you explore the type of services you want, such as Regain and Talkspace. Also, they can help you find accredited, licensed therapists you are able to work with via phone or online.  You can find Regain vs. Betterhelp reviews online to know which one really stands out. 

A lot of people find an app to be more affordable as well as convenient than in-person therapy.  For online therapy, a weekly session ranges from 35 to 80 dollars. According to a recent study, people suffering from depression and anxiety felt that their symptoms improved after a few sessions. However, it is worth noting that researchers involved with the said research were employees or consultants of the online therapy provider used.

Asking Questions That Matters to You A Lot Can Help Find a Right Therapist

Once you meet your counselor, it doesn’t matter if it is in person, on the phone, or online; it is not uncommon to totally forget each question you liked to ask. To ensure you have the details needed in making a sound choice, keep a notebook and a ball pen or a note app handy for a couple of days prior to the meeting. Takedown questions as they come to you.

The APA or American Psychological Association recommends asking some questions to a therapist to know how good he or she was.

Are you a registered therapist in the area?

Do you have experience in this job? How long have you been in this profession?

What is your area of expertise or specialty?

What types of treatments will you be going to use in addressing issues like this?

Do you accept insurance? If so, what are they?

Do I have to pay you straight and then seek a refund from my insurer?

Do you belong in any insurance network in the area?

Do you accept Medicaid or Medicare?

Are you part of my insurance network?

These are just some of the many important questions that you need to consider asking the therapist during your first meeting.

Conclusion

It doesn’t matter if you are dealing with trauma, family issues, grief, or relationship problems or need a cure for a mental disorder; looking for a therapist is able to make a huge difference in the journey. Look for a counselor who is a good fit; begin by considering practical things like insurance coverage, licensure, specialties, and location.   You might find that colleagues, friends, and healthcare providers are reliable sources of referrals. Also, you may find choices by utilizing search tools given by institutions, which address specific issues.