How to Find a Therapist for You
As a therapist, I realize have an understanding of the mental health field that the general public does not. Through supporting my own friends and family looking for therapists, I realize it can be pretty confusing and overwhelming to find a therapist. I don’t want not knowing how to go about finding a therapist that’s a good fit to stop people from accessing the wonderful resource of professional mental health support! Not all therapists are going to be the right therapist for you and that is okay. Therapists have different specialties, training, education and lived experiences and you deserve to work with one that fits your needs. One of the most impactful factors on the effectiveness of psychotherapy is the therapeutic alliance (Horvath & Symonds, 1991).
There are many therapist directories that can be a good option that allow you to filter by location, specialty, and more such as:
Open Path Collective - lower fee options
There’s google, word of mouth, and referrals and recommendations from other medical providers and today, even social media. There are also directories for therapists serving specific populations such as Postpartum Support International directory where you can find mental health providers trained in treating perinatal mental health concerns, EMDRIA if you are looking for EMDR (eye movement desensitization reprocessing therapy), and the the Association for Size Diversity and Health (ASDAH)’s new Health at Every Size® (HAES) listing if you are looking for a fat-positive therapist committed to dismantling oppressive systems.
To feel understood and seen, we often seek out individuals who share aspects of our identity or have similar lived experiences. Other therapist directories focused on specific populations include:
Insurance
Another method of finding a therapist if you are looking to stay in-network is through your insurance provider. You can call the number on the back of your health insurance card and ask for a list of mental health therapists that are in-network in your area. While this can work for many, it is likely not the most efficient way. In my own experience, the list you are provided is likely not up to date: providers on that list may no longer be contracted with that insurance, they may not be accepting new clients, and the list does not show their specialities or much information about them requiring you to then go and do your own research to see if this therapist might be a good fit and is accepting new clients. This method might be best for individuals who are seeking therapy for general mental health concerns like anxiety and depression and not desiring a specialist. (I plan to write another article on why so many therapists are moving away from contracting with insurance companies so stay tuned for that.)
Credentials
Another confusing aspect of the search…Understanding all those letters behind a clinician’s name! Below I break down some of the most common acronyms/credentials
LPC - Licensed Professional Counselor
LMHC - Licensed Mental Health Counselor
LMFT - Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
LCSW - Licensed Clinical Social Worker
LPC, LMHC, LMFT, LCSW are all masters level clinicians unless otherwise specified. For example someone can get their Doctorate degree in Counseling Supervision and Education and be an LPC so they would also have PhD or Dr. but that is not a requirement and less common.
PsyD - Psychologist (doctoral degree)
PhD - Psychologist (doctoral degree)
Below are a list of other qualified mental health professionals that have obtained their graduate degree and are working under supervision until they are fully/independently licensed. These can be wonderful clinicians that should not be overlooked!
NCC - National Certified Counselor - the credentials of a therapist who has graduated from their master’s degree and is currently working towards full/independent licensure likely as an LPC in a state that does not have a provisional license (ie. Pennsylvania) prior to obtaining full licensure.
MFT -Marriage and Family Therapist - the credentials of a therapist who has graduated from their master’s degree in marriage and family therapy and is currently working towards full/independent licensure of LMFT
LSW - Licensed Social Worker - the credentials of a therapist who has graduated from their master’s degree in social work and is currently working towards full/independent licensure of LCSW
LAC - Licensed Associate Counselor - the credentials of a therapist who has graduated from their master’s degree and is currently working towards full/independent licensure likely as an LPC
LPC-A - Licensed Professional Counselor Associate - the credentials of a therapist who has graduated from their master’s degree and is currently working towards full/independent licensure likely as an LPC
LMHCA - Licensed Mental Health Counselor Associate - the credentials of a therapist who has graduated from their master’s degree and is currently working towards full/independent licensure of LMHC
Licensure for therapists is governed by individual state boards so each state has their own requirements and credentials which is why you see so many variations. Most states have similar requirements for licensure with some variations like 4000 vs 3000 hours of supervised clinical hours required post graduate degree to obtain full licensure. While there might be some variation in how each of these clinicians approach their work, what is more important is that you feel their approach is a good fit for you. Social workers, professional counselors, marriage and family therapists and psychologists are all qualified to provide therapy and one is not better than the other.
Tips for when searching for your therapist:
If you are open to meeting with a therapist virtually (telehealth sessions), expand your search to your whole state! Licensure is by state so if you are in a rural area where there may be less resources/options search in a more populated area/city in your state. Due to licensure being by state, for most clinicians, you as the client must be physically located in the state in which the clinician is licensed at the time of a telehealth session.
Take advantage of free consultation calls! Many therapists offer these free 10-20 minute calls as a way to assess for clinical fit, allow you to get a feel for them, discuss logistics like payment and seeing if your schedules align
If you reach out to a therapist and they are full or aren’t the right fit for some reason, ask them for referrals to trusted colleagues! Therapists know how this system works better than anyone and we often know which colleagues are accepting new clients and are connected and have communities!
Take advantage of the filters on the directory sites!
A great therapist for your friend or coworker might not be a great fit for you and that’s okay! The therapeutic relationship is deeply personal and you want to feel safe and comfortable!
Find this article helpful? Let me know!
Horvath, A. O., & Symonds, B. D. (1991). Relation between working alliance and outcome in psychotherapy: A meta-analysis. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 38(2), 139–149. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-0167.38.2.139