How To Find The Right Therapist

There is no one size fits all approach to choosing a therapist. While you may be someone who knows what kind of provider you want, there are others who don’t feel comfortable in the mental health space just yet to make that distinction. The licensing, jargon and descriptions can make a potential therapy goer even more stressed out when beginning their search for the right fit. 

It’s clear that the process of finding the right therapist should be simple, but it is really anything but. Therefore, in an attempt to help those who feel overwhelmed, those who are new to therapy or just want to learn more about how to find the right fit in a therapist I have written this post! This is not advice or a “how to” because as I mentioned there is no right or wrong here, but this is for informational purposes only. 

Deciphering where to go when looking for clinical or medical advice, getting a diagnosis or looking to engage in a particular style of clinical treatment is really overwhelming! You may have heard to look for a potential therapist that feels like a good fit, maybe engage in a few therapy sessions to test out the type of therapy the provider practices and see if you can get an overall sense of how you feel in the session. It sounds like a lot of work and may be worth the effort to take the extra step in your research. However, even before entering the therapy room and to make your life a little bit easier, let’s go over some things you can look into even before setting up a consultation. 

LICENSURE AND EXPERIENCE

There are various credentials that allow a provider to conduct therapy. For instance I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, commonly referred to as a LCSW. You may also see therapists that are LMSW which are Licensed Master Social Workers. The difference between the two is the years of clinical experience and passing a clinical licensing exam. Each state has their own version of licensing and years of experience required to earn the highest level of licensure. 

In addition to Licensed Clinical Social Workers, you may see Marriage and Family therapist licensures aka LMFT, PsyD, PhD or MDs to name a few. There are multiple factors that differentiate each license, such as years of schooling, years of hands-on clinical experience and each governing board or national association. For instance psychologists in the US with PsyD and PhDs follow American Psychological Association guidelines and code of ethics, whereas Licensed Clinical Social Workers follow National Association of Social Work aka NASWs. 

While licensure is important in some aspects, as it can influence the ways in which a therapist approaches you as their client and the therapeutic landscape in general, it is not the end all be all in my book! I find that as a LCSW I pull from not only my education and experiences I have as a social worker, but also what I have pursued beyond my years in school. For me my life experience and postgraduate years have had a tremendous influence on me as a therapist. While it remains an integral part of my practice, I would encourage you to look even further beyond the credentials and at the provider as a whole. 

AREAS OF EXPERTISE AND NICHE

This thought leads me to my next nugget: What are a therapist’s areas of expertise and interest? The way we often find or learn more about a therapist is through their online profiles and website. Take a look at what they represent through their language, photos and what they choose to share about themselves. A therapist may have many areas of expertise listed, do you fit into at least one or two categories? 

The therapist may provide individual therapy, couples counseling, family therapy and group work. Just because a therapist focuses on substance abuse doesn't mean that they don’t also see patients with anxiety, depression or serve the young women's population for example. It is always better to ask the therapist if you fit into their practice than assume you don’t. 

Many clinical providers have a main focus and population they serve. To find out more about this, you can simply ask the provider who they typically serve in their practice. Don’t forget to also explore and ask if they work with an insurance company. If you are looking for a provider like myself who is out of network, ask about reimbursement rates and how submitting paperwork to insurance works.

It is also important to note, that if for example you are looking for therapy for anxiety and are a part of a particular community, there is no harm to find a therapist who also may identify or has experience with that community even if it’s not the area you feel you need support around. There are some great websites that allow you to search for therapists that sort by religion, gender, sexual orientation and beyond such as Psychology Today, My Wellbeing and Alma.  

RESEARCH THE BASICS

Whoever the licensed professional or healthcare provider is, another large factor to consider is what type of therapy the provider offers. Nowadays providers use online therapy as well as in person, whereas some have gone completely remote. If you are looking for the option of one day going in person, make sure to ask the clinician’s plans in terms of providing in person therapy moving forward. If you are submitting to insurance either in network or through out of network benefits, it is also a good idea to see what is covered if you see your provider through online therapy as some insurance providers have limitations in coverage. 

Another thing to understand is if the clinical provider prescribes medications or has a psychiatrist they can refer you to. FYI: A psychiatrist (MD) is the provider that prescribes medications. Sometimes, you can find a psychiatrist that couples medication management with therapy. However, if you need medication management and therapy, many people see two providers that specialize in either therapy or medication management. 

TERMINOLOGY AND LINGO TO UNDERSTAND:

Treatment Plan: The plan that you and your therapist will follow throughout your time in therapy. This may look more or less collaborative, creative, structured etc based on the clinician and the type of treatment you are engaging in.  

Modality: The type of therapy the therapist is using. Modalities include but are not limited to cognitive behavioral therapy aka CBT, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy aka DBT, Psychodynamic, Psychoanalytic and the list goes on. 

Therapeutic Alliance: The relationship between you and your therapist

Please submit other terms you would like to learn more about in the comments section below!

My hope is that you feel a little less confused and more empowered to find the right therapist for you! Continue to ask questions, look around and tune into your needs. I really believe that there is a provider out there for everyone if you take the leap and look for the right therapist for YOU.