Five Tips on Finding The Right Therapist?

1. Ask Around?

Often when we are considering getting a service the best options can come from friends, family, and even in some cases social media. While privacy is surely important, however, as a society we have evolved past a lot of the stigma regarding mental health. Keep in mind you never have to disclose to anyone why you are seeking therapy, and you also can choose to use the throw them off your scent method “My friend is searching for a therapist”. Whatever works for you, in the end the goal is for you to find the help you are desiring.

2. Is it okay for me to search for a certain “type” of therapist?

Absolutely! You should feel comfortable with your therapist to discuss anything, and I mean anything. So, yes be as selective as you desire including if you are specifically looking for a male, female, Christian, specific age bracket, or even race. While, professionally most clinicians are trained to work with diverse populations, that does not mean you will be equally as comfortable with every therapist. However, even being selective in your search does not mean that due to a therapist’s demographics they will be the right fit for you, so be open to avoid dismissing a therapist that could have helped you.

3. Will therapy be too expensive for me?

“Show me the money” in my Cuba Gooding Jr. voice, lol, (it’s a joke)! As in any service there is often a fee. Fortunately, most health care coverage covers a percentage of the cost, if not the complete cost. Check with your health insurance to determine if your policy covers treatment, and what if any will be your out of pocket cost. Also, some insurances will only cover certain services and providers, so asking for a provider list can be helpful and getting clarification on what type of therapy is covered, for instance most insurances do not cover relationship or marriage counseling. Therapist often also have various self-pay options. It’s important that you find the right therapist for your mental health and your pockets. In some areas you can check with your community mental health department for low cost or free options. Remember a therapist’s rate is not always indicative of the quality of services. Periodt!

1. Should I choose In-person treatment or Telehealth?

Many therapists offer many options to providing treatment, and while most are offering telehealth/virtual options due to the current national health crisis, there are still some providers offering in-person treatment. You should consider what will work best for your lifestyle and comfort. Virtual sessions allow you to be in a private comfortable environment of your choosing and can provide convenience for some. In-person sessions require you to enter the therapist’s space and can provide many with a private area to talk openly, especially if privacy is difficult to achieve in their home. Example: If you are a super busy person and have an issue with time management, you might consider telehealth options as it eliminates commute time and allows a little more flexibility. Be sure to check with your healthcare coverage to find out if telehealth is covered, and check with the therapist you selected to know what they provide.

5. How much should I tell in the first Session?

As much as possible! While I understand that it’s scary to share personal information with a stranger. However, in therapy it’s often how you and therapist can determine course of treatment, diagnosis, and if the therapist feels like they will be able to help you. There are traumatic experiences that take time for some to discuss in detail, yet if you are able to at least mention the trauma without detail this helps. I’ll leave you with this analogy, if you go to your doctor and your experiencing discomfort in your pelvic area, and you only mention you have a sore throat, more likely than not, the discomfort in your pelvic area will continue and may even worsen. So be as honest as possible with your therapist, so you can start getting the help you desire.

In the end, the goal is to get you started on the journey to your best life! So get started!!