Mental health has become a priority for most individuals. And it’s more important than ever to find the right therapist suited for an individual. It can be challenging now since many are seeking therapists because of mental health de-stigmatization. Plus, finding the right fit can also be tricky. Then, how do you find a therapist? Let’s find out. But before that, let’s explore what you should look for in a therapist and what to expect when seeing a therapist.
Therapist Credentials
You should always take note of their credentials because this is important to their specializations. And that you want to talk to a professional that can give you a diagnosis, listen to your concerns, and give you prescriptions or ways to manage your concerns.
According to VeryWell Mind and GoodTherapy, here are common credentials to look out for:
- MD – Psychiatrist
- PsyD – Doctor of Psychology
- Ph.D. – Doctor of Philosophy
- LPC – Licensed Professional Counselor
- LMHC – Licensed Mental Health Counselor
- LMFT – Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
- LCSW – Licensed Clinical Social Worker
- NCC – National Certified Counselor
Therapist Rates
The next thing to know about finding a therapist is knowing their rates. Some would charge by the hour, while some others would charge by the session. Rates vary by provider, of course. A session may cost around $100 to $200. And for the hour, it would be approximately $65 or more.
You may be curious, though, would my insurance cover my therapy costs? The answer: it depends on your insurance. Some insurance providers for small businesses may cover your mental health expenses. According to the Harvard Business Review, there might be reimbursement options too.
What If Your First Choice Has A Waitlist?
Some therapists are more in demand. After all, many are seeking therapy, and some therapists would be fully booked weeks or months in advance. Most experts would argue that it’s okay to tell your first choice of therapist that you may need to see them immediately. But you have a slew of options, such as online-based therapy, and most of them are available immediately. Or, if you need help immediately, you can call crisis hotlines, which you can find at the end of this article.
Browse Online
The easiest way to search for a therapist is by browsing online. The hard part is choosing one. Ask yourself these questions before choosing a therapist:
- Would you like a therapist nearby?
- Would you prefer seeing a therapist online and/or face to face?
- How much is your budget for seeing a therapist?
- What are you seeking treatment for?
- Would you like an experienced therapist or take a chance on a new one?
When you finally have answers to these questions, you can start your search in finding a therapist online. Luckily, most therapists would list their rates, specializations, and locations. Sometimes, therapist seekers might need to find reviews about the organization the therapist is working in or reviews about a certain therapist.
And once you decide on a therapist, you want to try them out for a couple of sessions. See if you and the therapist click. After all, you want someone who gets you and knows their stuff too. From there, you can decide if you need a new therapist or a set of therapists to help you with all your concerns.
Places to find therapists are mental health apps, online directories, and nonprofit websites.
Talk To A Loved One
If the ones you see online aren’t great, how do you find a therapist through loved ones? Well, those who don’t want to seek therapy JUST YET can talk to loved ones about their concerns. You would want a support system in case therapy isn’t suitable for you yet. Your loved ones can become your confidants and help you get through your concerns. From there, you can ask them for help regarding finding therapists, IF they do know anyone. Or they could help you find someone.
Seek Help Immediately
If you need immediate help, you might need to contact crisis hotlines.
The American Psychological Association has compiled all the most important hotlines here: https://www.apa.org/topics/crisis-hotlines
If you or anyone has suicidal thoughts, the hotline for the Suicide Prevention Line is 1-800-273-8255. It will become a 3-digit number in July 2022: 988
For international suicide hotlines, you can check them out here: https://www.opencounseling.com/suicide-hotlines
