By: Jessica Taylor, LPC and Owner of Thrive Counseling Denver
Let me guess, you’ve been thinking about seeing a therapist for a while, but you just haven’t made the move yet. Maybe you’ve never been to therapy and the process of finding a good therapist seems overwhelming. Or maybe you have been to therapy in the past and either feel discouraged by a negative experience or are worried that you won’t find a therapist that you ‘click’ with, like you did with your previous therapist.
I get it!
I am a therapist and the idea of finding a therapist feels overwhelming, even for me! I often tell the story about how when I was in grad school, I desperately needed a therapist. My anxiety was out of control. I found a therapist that seemed like a good fit, and then had her number in my planner for two months before I ever made that call. When we finally got started, I felt immediate relief in my symptoms of anxiety. I also felt silly for being so anxious about making that call. But now I have learned that this experience is all too common.
So, if you have been thinking about coming to therapy, I urge you to not wait until the thing that you need support around (symptoms of anxiety, relationship issues, navigating a life transition, etc.) feels out of control. Therapy works better when we are not in crisis mode.
To make things a bit easier for you, I’ve compiled a list of tips that can help you get started in finding the right therapist for you.
Where to Start
- Determine if your health insurance has any mental health benefits.
- A lot of plans these days don’t, but it doesn’t hurt to ask.
- Just call the number on the back of your card and ask: “Does my plan provide any mental health coverage, for providers in, or out, of my network?”
- Write down everything they say, so you don’t forget!
- If you don’t have any mental health benefits through your insurance, determine your monthly budget for therapy.
- The cost per 50-minute session varies, depending on factors such as where a therapist is located, their specialty, and the amount of experience they have in the field.
- If you find a therapist that you are interested in, you can check their website for their prices before you even call them.
- If a therapist doesn’t have their prices on their website (like this!), that seems like a bit of a red flag for me. Therapists should be all about transparency and making this process as seamless as possible for potential clients.
- Let’s say sessions are $150 each and you can only afford $300 per month right now, just let your therapist know that you can only meet every other week. They should be okay with this, as long as they are not concerned about your safety if you meet less frequently.
- **Side note: Are you wondering why therapy feels so expensive? I mean, it’s just talking, after all! This is related to licensed therapists having gone through higher education, paying for additional training each year, and having overhead such as office rent, multiple types of insurance, and computer software to keep client information safe and secure.
- Know where to look for a therapist.
- Honestly, just googling things like “best therapists near me” or “anxiety therapists in Denver,” is a great place to start!
- If you have a friend who has been raving about their therapist, ask them if they feel comfortable giving you their information (please note that the therapist will not be able to discuss that they know you or your friend, in order to protect confidentiality).
- Psychology Today is also a great resource for finding a therapist in your area!
- Do your research.
- If there is a therapist or practice that you are interested in, do your research!
- Make sure they are located conveniently to your home or office.
- Make sure they are in your price range.
- Check out reviews that previous clients have left for them.
- If you have questions that can’t be answered by their website, then it’s time to give them a call!
- Here’s how to navigate the initial phone call like a pro.
- This initial phone call will either be with the therapist themselves or an intake coordinator.
- If you are calling a group practice and are unsure of which therapist there would be the best match for you, the intake coordinator can help you out with this.
- At my practice, I match clients with therapists not only based on what is bringing them in (often called the “presenting problem”), but also based on personality. I ask if they have done therapy before, and if so, what worked and what didn’t. I am pretty darn good at matching clients to therapists, but if the client is still hesitant to jump right in and schedule a full intake, then I offer an initial consult call with their potential therapist. Basically, just to do a vibe check.
- Get started!
- I recommend getting scheduled for an intake as soon as you can. If you schedule too far out in advance (more than a few weeks), you are more likely to lose momentum and motivation.
There you have it, my tips and tricks for finding the best therapist in your area. Please know that while the process of finding a therapist can be an overwhelming one, there is nothing more important than investing time and money into your mental health. You’re worth it. Want help navigating the process in finding an awesome therapist? I’m happy to help! Give me a call today and let’s get you to where you want to be.