Finding a New Therapist: Where to Look and How to Choose

You may find yourself reading this post because you are ready to take the first step toward your healing journey, or you may have had a bad experience with a therapist who was not the right fit for you and you want to avoid that happening again. Either way you are in the right place! Below are some quick tips for where to find therapists and how to choose the right therapist for you.

Where to Look

Primary Care Physician

Therapists often collaborate with primary care physicians, which means your doctor could have recommendations if you asked! Make sure to check with your doctor at your next appointment, or call their office staff if you want a recommendation sooner.

Insurance Provider

Insurance providers often have lists of therapists who they know are available. This can be a great route to find a therapist when you know you want to find one who takes your insurance. To get started, just call the "For Members" number listed on the back of your health insurance card!

Psychology Today

PsychologyToday is a directory where mental health professionals can be found. Each provider will include a small bio on themselves, including details you will want to know such as rates, location, expertise, etc. Make sure to use their search engine tool to narrow down the list of providers by any preferences you may have, otherwise you might get lost in an endless sea of profiles.

Online Therapy Platforms

Online therapy platforms became popular following COVID. Many celebrities have ads for these sites on their podcasts so you may have heard of a few like BetterHelp, Alma, or Grow Therapy. These are sites where you can create an account, input your health insurance information, and then be matched with a therapist. It takes the legwork out of having to find a therapist.

**Please note Magnolia Mental Health does not endorse any option listed above.

How to Choose

In a world where you could even ask ChatGPT to rattle off a list of therapists for you, it may feel daunting to figure out what therapist is right for you. If you are wondering, does it matter what therapist I choose? The answer is YES. So in order to avoid having to break up with a therapist or two, here are three key tips when choosing a therapist:

Tip #1 - Read Therapist Bios

No matter where you find your therapist, typically the therapist will have a bio. This may be easy to find if they are listed on an online platform or PsychologyToday, or you may have to do a little digging. Now this is not a recommendation to stalk your therapist online, though you have every right to. However, a simple Google Search of their name and credentials should populate some information about background and expertise. Take this time to read up and ensure you like their bio before you commit!

Tip #2 - Search for Ratings

It might sound odd, but sometimes you can find ratings of therapists. If the therapist works for an agency, Google that agency and see what pops up in the reviews online. You may find information that gives you red flag vibes. Similarly, if a therapist owns their own practice, you can search the practice for reviews. It's worth a check!

Tip #3 - Interview, Interview, Interview

Just like you would interview a babysitter to watch your kids or a contractor to work on your house, you can interview therapists! Many therapists offer a free phone consultation in which you can get to know one another before you start working together. This is a great time to ask a potential therapist questions that would help you determine if they would be a good match for you. Here is a list of questions to get you started:

• What is your approach to therapy?

• Do you have any specialities?

• Do you typically work with clients who have concerns like mine?

• Do you work with people of my background (race, gender, culture, orientation, etc.)?

• How often do you typically meet with clients?

• What can I expect from the first few sessions?

Ready, Set, Go!

Finding and choosing the right therapist requires some work, but if you follow the tips outlined above you should be able to avoid jumping through extra hoops and pitfalls.