Finding the right therapist can be stressful. You want to make sure you find someone you connect with and can properly address your mental health needs. There is also insurance to worry about when it comes to finding the right therapist.
Since the process of finding the best therapist is often overwhelming, we’ve come up with a few steps to get you closer to finding the right therapist for you. We’ll be going over the most important considerations you need to make before starting your search and then giving you some strategies to help narrow down your search. If you are wondering how to find a therapist, then you’ve made it to the right place! Let’s discover together how you can find the right therapist to get your mental health in check.
Step 1: Decide Between Online and In-Person Therapy
Before you start looking for an online therapist that takes insurance, you need to decide if online therapy is the right option for you
Virtual therapy is just as effective as in-person therapy.
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, more and more people have been using online therapy to manage their symptoms. Before 2020, online therapy services existed, but they were far rarer than today. Because online therapy is so popular, the first step we recommend taking when finding a therapist is deciding between online and in-person therapy.
For people who lead busy lifestyles—new parents are a great example—finding an online therapy service that takes insurance is often the best option. Online therapy is also a great option for people who live in rural areas and may not have a therapist's office within easy driving distance.
On the other hand, in-person therapy is preferable for a lot of people. We have all had to deal with the annoyance of a spotty video call—and the last thing you want is communication delays during a therapy session. Some people also prefer in-person therapy because it is easier to communicate in person rather than over a video call. Studies show that 90% of our communication is non-verbal, so it makes sense why a lot of people prefer in-person therapy sessions.
Step 2: Find Therapy That Takes Your Insurance
Finding online therapy that takes insurance isn’t the easiest process, but it is possible
More online therapy services are accepting insurance.
Once you have decided which form of therapy is the best for your mental health needs, it is time to find a therapy service that takes insurance. To find a therapist for in-person sessions that takes your insurance, the process is as simple as visiting your insurance provider’s website and viewing a list of local therapists that will take your insurance.
Step 3: Imagine Your Ideal Therapist
You want to choose a therapist you feel comfortable with and who can appropriately understand your symptoms
The right therapist for you is out there!
Once you’ve ironed out the insurance side of choosing a therapist, the next step is to consider which therapist is best for your needs. We recommend making a list of the characteristics you want your therapist to have. First, you should consider whether you want to work with a male, female, or nonbinary therapist. Many people feel more comfortable opening up to someone of a certain gender for a variety of reasons. This is a decision you shouldn’t think too hard about. Simply imagine someone you feel comfortable opening up to, and you can select their gender from there. You may also have an age preference for your therapist, which is totally ok! You can use your preferences to narrow down your search.
Finally, you want to consider each therapist’s background when making your final decision. Therapists often have specialties or areas of study that inform how they offer treatment to their patients. For example, some therapists specialize in PTSD, LGBTQ+ issues, child psychology, eating disorders, and any other area of expertise you can imagine. While you don’t necessarily have to find a therapist that is an expert on your exact symptoms, it is often beneficial to know a therapist’s background before you visit for the first time,
We hope that our steps brought you just a little bit close to finding the right therapist. Remember, there is nothing wrong with talking to someone and getting help if you’re feeling down. For the majority of people who struggle with their mental health, going to therapy helps them air their stresses so they can get back to focusing on their daily life.
Before you start looking for an online therapist that takes insurance, you need to decide if online therapy is the right option for you
Virtual therapy is just as effective as in-person therapy.
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, more and more people have been using online therapy to manage their symptoms. Before 2020, online therapy services existed, but they were far rarer than today. Because online therapy is so popular, the first step we recommend taking when finding a therapist is deciding between online and in-person therapy.
For people who lead busy lifestyles—new parents are a great example—finding an online therapy service that takes insurance is often the best option. Online therapy is also a great option for people who live in rural areas and may not have a therapist's office within easy driving distance.
On the other hand, in-person therapy is preferable for a lot of people. We have all had to deal with the annoyance of a spotty video call—and the last thing you want is communication delays during a therapy session. Some people also prefer in-person therapy because it is easier to communicate in person rather than over a video call. Studies show that 90% of our communication is non-verbal, so it makes sense why a lot of people prefer in-person therapy sessions.
Step 2: Find Therapy That Takes Your Insurance
Finding online therapy that takes insurance isn’t the easiest process, but it is possible
More online therapy services are accepting insurance.
Once you have decided which form of therapy is the best for your mental health needs, it is time to find a therapy service that takes insurance. To find a therapist for in-person sessions that takes your insurance, the process is as simple as visiting your insurance provider’s website and viewing a list of local therapists that will take your insurance.
On the other hand, finding online therapy that takes insurance is a little bit trickier. A lot of the most popular online therapy services do not take insurance and can cost you up to $90 per week. This is understandably too pricey for many prospective clients. To get guaranteed online therapy that takes insurance, we recommend contacting a local therapist you know accepts your insurance and asking if they are willing to provide virtual care. As we mentioned, online therapy is much more common after the events of 2020, so there are a lot of therapists that understand opting for online therapy over in-person services.
Step 3: Imagine Your Ideal Therapist
You want to choose a therapist you feel comfortable with and who can appropriately understand your symptoms
The right therapist for you is out there!
Once you’ve ironed out the insurance side of choosing a therapist, the next step is to consider which therapist is best for your needs. We recommend making a list of the characteristics you want your therapist to have. First, you should consider whether you want to work with a male, female, or nonbinary therapist. Many people feel more comfortable opening up to someone of a certain gender for a variety of reasons. This is a decision you shouldn’t think too hard about. Simply imagine someone you feel comfortable opening up to, and you can select their gender from there. You may also have an age preference for your therapist, which is totally ok! You can use your preferences to narrow down your search.
Finally, you want to consider each therapist’s background when making your final decision. Therapists often have specialties or areas of study that inform how they offer treatment to their patients. For example, some therapists specialize in PTSD, LGBTQ+ issues, child psychology, eating disorders, and any other area of expertise you can imagine. While you don’t necessarily have to find a therapist that is an expert on your exact symptoms, it is often beneficial to know a therapist’s background before you visit for the first time,
We hope that our steps brought you just a little bit close to finding the right therapist. Remember, there is nothing wrong with talking to someone and getting help if you’re feeling down. For the majority of people who struggle with their mental health, going to therapy helps them air their stresses so they can get back to focusing on their daily life.
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