A struggle that many people face after they realize they would like to start going to therapy is how to find the right therapist for them. The mental health field is full of various professionals, but finding the right one that fits all of your needs is crucial to your mental health journey.
There are four key components to finding the right therapist for you:
- Do you need a therapist, psychiatrist or both?
- Do they specialize in the issues that are causing you to seek therapy in the first place?
- Are they covered by your insurance?
- Do you like him/her?
1- Choosing a Healthcare Professional
The mental health field can be confusing to some because there are many different types of mental health professionals. Therapists are able to diagnose, assess and treat mental health disorders. They often use talk therapy such as cognitive behavioral, dialectical behavior, interpersonal, etc. to help you overcome and heal your illness. Psychiatrists are doctors who went to medical school, therefore they are able to diagnose illnesses and prescribe medication. Therapists and psychiatrists often work together to make sure that your needs are being met both medically with medication if needed (psychiatrist) and emotionally/psychologically (therapist).
2- Specializes in Your Illness
Individual’s may seek therapy for a variety of reasons. These issues can range from decreased self confidence, psychological/physical abuse endured, a traumatic event experienced, relationship issues, personal fears, drug/alcohol abuse, anxiety, depression, eating disorders, etc.; the list goes on and on. While therapists are trained to handle any and all illnesses that they may encounter with patients, there are some that specialize in a certain disorder. There are therapists that focus on family issues, anxiety/depression, eating disorders, etc. If you are going to a therapist for a very specific reason, it is often helpful to go to one that regularly treats patients for this illness; their knowledge of the problem as well as treatment plans will be extremely in depth and beneficial to you.
3- Dialing in on the Cost
Therapy can be extremely costly. Healthcare in the United States is pricey, and not everyone’s insurance covers mental health services. Many people view physical health as more important than mental health, but mental health illnesses manifest psychological as well as physical symptoms.
If your insurance does cover some or all of the costs of therapy, I would recommend reaching out to your insurance to get a list of therapists that they cover. If you don’t have insurance, or have one that doesn’t cover therapy, you will need to reach out to therapists on your own and find out the cost of therapy. Sessions can range from $75-$200, so choose wisely within your budget. Hopefully when mental illness becomes further destigmatized, there will be an increase in insurance coverage for mental health services.
4- Ensuring You Both “Click”
Some people feel more comfortable with a woman, some feel more comfortable with a man. Ensuring that you find a therapist in which you can open up to and be vulnerable with is key to you getting what you need out of therapy. If you can’t open up to your therapist, you will not be able to get to the root of your problems. Make sure that you can talk to them openly and honestly. Sometimes that means you will have to go to one, five, or ten consultations with different therapists before you find the one that you really click with (it took me six therapists to find the right one for me). Never settle for a therapist you don’t really like, otherwise you will just end up wasting your time and your money.
