By: Jessica Taylor, LPC
Have you been considering going to therapy, but you have no idea where to start, or how to pick the right therapist? If that sounds like you, and you want advice on how to pick the perfect therapist, I’m here to help. As a licensed therapist, and also someone who has gone to therapy myself, I know that the process of finding a therapist can feel super overwhelming. I also know that you don’t want to waste your time and money on a therapist that just feels…fine. Or even worse, a therapist that is just totally the wrong fit. You deserve to find a therapist that feels like the perfect fit!
So, here are the five things that I think you NEED to consider when picking a therapist, and also a few warning signs to keep an eye out for.
The Five Things to Consider
LOGISTICS
- Location: Make sure that the therapist you choose is close to work, school, or home. Trust me, you do not want to spend time in your car commuting to a therapist every week. A lot of therapists these days offer telehealth, so if that’s your thing, therapy will always be convenient. But I find that most people still prefer in-person sessions.
- The therapist can schedule at the frequency you need: For example, if you want to start off meeting every week (which is typical when first starting therapy), do not commit to a therapist whose calendar is super booked up, and they can only get you in every three weeks. Sometimes it will take a few weeks to get in for that initial intake, but then your therapist should be available weekly. In addition, make sure your therapist can accommodate times that are convenient for you, such as after work if that is necessary.
COST
- Reasonably priced: Therapy is an investment in your mental health, and there is nothing more important, but going broke from therapy isn’t going to do your mental health any favors. Also, the most expensive therapists aren’t necessarily the best therapists! Look around at what different therapists in your area are charging (this differs by geographical location) and maybe try going with someone in the middle of the road (if you can afford it.)
- In-Network with Insurance: If your insurance plan offers mental health services, try to find a provider in-network with your insurance company. You will need to call your insurance company to see if you even have any MH benefits on your plan (a lot of plans unfortunately do not cover any mental health services.)
- Out-of-Network with Insurance: One huge benefit of seeing a therapist that is out of network with your insurance is that you and your therapist will determine what your treatment looks like, not an insurance company that knows nothing about you or your mental health. In addition, all your information will be confidential, as your therapist will not be required to release any information to an insurance company to prove that you need services.
EXPERIENCE
- They have experience treating the thing you are going to therapy for: For example, if you are needing therapy for anxiety, you are not going to go to someone who only does couples counseling. The therapist’s website should list their areas of specialization, but feel free to ask them!
YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE
- Therapy is a no judgement zone: You should not feel as though you need to keep things from your therapist for fear of judgment. Sure, it might take you a few sessions to fully warm up to them, but if you are holding back because you are getting weird vibes (or they are perfectly fine, but your personalities don’t mesh), they might not be the best fit.
THERAPY CONTINUES TO FEEL BENEFICIAL
- You ultimately control your course of treatment: Every session might not contain some huge “break through,” but therapy should feel helpful overall. Please know that if you feel like you have hit the end of the road with a therapist, you can take a break from therapy and/or go looking for a new therapist any time you want.
Possible Warning Signs
- The therapist is not transparent about costs for sessions. You should know this up front. If they don’t tell you when scheduling, ask!
- You feel like their values don’t match yours and they might be judging you.
- They are unwilling to at least have a 15-minute intro call before scheduling an intake session.
- Your therapist gets defensive when you ask them about their approach as a therapist or where they see therapy with you going.
- If your therapist doesn’t even mention or ask you about your goals within the first few sessions (some therapists might not see this as a warning sign, but it is for me.)
There you have it! The five things that you need to consider when searching for a therapist. If you have any questions about our therapists, or therapy in general, feel free to give us a call! We are happy to answer any questions you might have, in order to help make this process feel a bit less overwhelming.