‘How to find a therapist’ is a question that seems simple but in actuality can feel overwhelming. Once you have accepted the idea of seeing a therapist (because there is no shame in that), you have to find one. To help make the process less daunting, check out five tips on how to find a therapist…who doesn’t suck.
Admitting to yourself that now is the time to find a therapist, or counselor, is a huge step. Yay you! You are definitely on your way to improving your life significantly.
There are many counselors out there, but you need to find the right one for you. You need to find someone that you connect with and someone who can understand who you are and where you are in your struggles. More importantly, you need to find someone that you can trust. Revealing your true self is impossible with someone you don’t trust. Here are a few things to take into consideration when you start your search for how to find a therapist for yourself.
5 Tips for How to Find a Therapist
1. Take your time.
These are many reasons why finding a therapist should not be a rushed decision. Do not just go to Google and type in something along the lines of, “Therapy Lawrenceville GA” and go with the very first option just because it was fast and easy. Take the time to research and learn about the person and company that will be helping you.
2. Check with your insurance.
For many people insurance will cover the cost of some or all of your counseling. If this is your case heck with them first. Are there therapy options in your area that fall under your benefits? If so, research those companies! For example, local Georgia company, Ray of Hope Counseling Services accepts most forms of insurance and Medicaid, as well. This is what you want to look for – someone that can hopefully help you file with your insurance so that you can actually afford to get help! If the therapist you want does not take your insurance, consider seeing if they have a sliding scale for payments that can help you.
3. Know what you need help with.
It’s difficult to research how to find a therapist when you don’t know what kind of therapist you need. A lot of counselors will have specialties, or be experts in specific topics/issues. As an example with the same counseling company as above, Ray of Hope Counseling Services displays their areas of expertise on their main page. On each individual counselors page, you can find their specific areas of expertise as well.
On the page for Lynn Thompson Umstead, Clinical Director and Founder of Ray of Hope Counseling Services, it shows blended families, infertility issues, adoption, relationship issues, couples counseling, premarital counseling, men’s issues, adolescent issues, life transitions, depression, anxiety, and more are her areas of expertise. If you need someone with an expertise in infertility or another one of the topics listed, then it would be a great idea to find out more information about her.
Read this shocking letter to find out what depression can feel like.
4. Find an office that is convenient.
Another very important aspect of finding the right counselor for yourself is to find an office that is conveniently located and has hours that work with your schedule. If it’s not convenient, it will just be harder to go.
For the ultimate convenience, you may want to consider is online counseling. Does the office you are researching offer it? Hopefully! Although these kind of therapy sessions are relatively new, more and more therapists are now offering online therapy. It is such a huge perk because you do not have to worry about traffic, waiting in a waiting room, or even getting dressed! It makes it easier to have a therapy session virtually as opposed to actually having to go in to a therapist’s office. Many people prefer the face to face meetings with a therapist in a traditional office but having different options are always good.
5. Make sure you’re comfortable with the therapist.
Do not be afraid to interview your potential therapist. You will be paying them after all. Make sure you have a comfort level with them on the surface, that they have the ability to understand you, and that their office meets your needs. Do you want someone who is uber-familiar and hugs you after each session? Or someone who is professional to a fault and sits behind a desk while you chat? Consider your gut reaction to meeting the counselor and trust it.
After you do your research and you know that the therapist is well qualified in counseling in general, as well as with your specific need(s), I recommend scheduling a test session with that person. Use it to find out if you ‘click’ with them as a person. This will be your final step to determining if you can feel comfortable with them and want to begin a regular counseling sessions. Do keep in mind that it probably won’t seem natural at first, no matter who you choose.
Good luck on your quest for how to find a therapist you can trust and who can help you survive and thrive today’s ups and downs. You are worth it!
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