Therapy 101: How to find a therapist that “clicks” with you

Welcome back to our Therapy 101 series where we work to destigmatize therapy and make mental health services more accessible to everyone. This week we’re walking through the process of finding a therapist that “clicks” for you. It’s always easier said than done: “go to therapy”. But sometimes the obvious answer is the most complicated. We’re here to simplify those complications by breaking everything down from what to look for, what to ask and, most importantly, where to start when beginning your mental health journey.

There are a multitude of avenues in which you can find the right therapist for your needs, here are just a few:

1. Word of mouth – ask those around you if they know of anyone. This is a great way to find a therapist because there’s a chance that if someone in your circle “clicks” with them, that they may “click” for you too.
2. Psychologytoday.com
   1. Filter by therapists, online therapists, support groups, psychiatrists or treatment center
   2. Search by your city or ZIP
   3. Filter search results by preferences: gender, specialities, insurance groups, language, etc.
3. Social Media – Many therapy clinics have social media accounts (hi, that’s us) where you can learn more about their practice, providers and offerings.
4. Primary care doctor – given that they are already familiar with your overall health, they may be a good place to start when seeking out a therapist or other mental health treatment.
5. Religious leaders – ask your spiritual leader for a recommendation. Some may have a set of therapists they like to refer parishioners to.

1. What areas they specialize in i.e. adults, couples, children, anxiety, addiction, PTSD, etc.
2. What evidence based treatment they utilize to treat your specific concerns
3. What you can expect during your individual sessions
4. If they accept insurance
   1. If not, what their cash pay rate is

f after the first few sessions you don’t think they vibe with you, don’t be afraid to continue your search. Sometimes the search for a therapist can be daunting, but just know there is a therapist out there that you will vibe with, it just may take a few tries to find the right fit for your needs. The most important thing is finding a therapist that you trust and feel comfortable opening up to and that can take some time.

Click here to see the NPR article that inspired this post.