How to Choose the Best Therapist for You
While there are definitely individual steps we can take to improve our present condition, sometimes help from a professional, licensed therapist is necessary. Therapists are psychologists who specialize in human behavior, mental health assessment, and behavior change. A trained, licensed, and experienced therapist will not only be able to address your specific needs, but they will go the extra mile to create a supportive and welcoming environment for all their patients.
That being said, therapy requires compatibility between both the patient and the therapist. And, let’s face it-therapy can also be downright expensive.
That’s why it’s crucial to find a therapist that is the “right fit.” Here are 5 tips to find a mental health professional who is “right” for you:
1. Ask for referrals from friends and family
If you know people who are currently going through therapy, this could be a great place to start. Ask your friends and family what they like about their current therapist. See if there are any websites, resources, or referral lists that they can refer you to. However, it is important to remember that different people have different goals for therapy. So a good match for a friend might not be a great match for you.
2. Use reliable online databases to find therapists
If there isn’t someone in your immediate network that you can connect with, try using an online database to find a therapist. But instead of using a basic search engine like Google, start finding contacts through a specific therapist-search page. The American Psychological Association, the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, and the Association of LGBTQ+ Psychiatrists all have updated databases with therapists. You can often filter by location, speciality, gender, and/or name.
3. Explore local resources
If you are a student, your school may provide mental health counseling or therapy, sometimes at a reduced cost (or even for free!). If you are employed, reach out to Human Resources; they may refer you to employee assistance or wellness programs. Check in with your local community as well to find therapists located close to your neighborhood.
4. Reach out to specific organizations
If you’re looking for a therapist to treat a particular mental health challenge, you could connect with a national association, networking, or helpline. Examples include the National Eating Disorders Association, the National Center for PTSD, and the Anxiety and Depression Association of America. If you need support for a particular identity, you might consider finding a culture-conscious therapist through organizations like the Black Mental Health Alliance, the National Asian American Pacific Islander Mental Health Association, or Therapy for Latinx.
5. Call and ask questions
Once you’ve found a therapist that you are interested in working with, introduce yourself over the phone. Don’t be afraid to confirm information about them that you might have found online. You want to make sure that your therapist has a degree from an accredited school (and not an online coaching certificate). Ask them about their specialty, previous training and experience, and whether they have worked with patients with similar issues. As for finances, ask your therapist what types of insurance they accept, and how you will be billed.
6. Choose Youtime Online
We provide easy-to-book, confidential, professional therapy sessions, all online. Our therapists are experienced psychologists who have undergone a rigorous selection process to ensure that our clients receive the best treatment. In addition, we conduct all of our services online via Skype, Zoom, or the phone, to ensure that all our clients can get the help they need, from anywhere, at any time. This can also allow our clients to feel an added level of confidentiality since it can be done from the comfort of their own home (or any safe space), not in a therapist’s office. To make sure that you find the “right fit,” we provide all new clients with a free consultation.
If you’re looking to find that “right fit,” set up a free consultation with one of our trained, professional therapists - all online, whenever works best for you. Here to listen, here to help, in your time.