Therapists

Choosing the right therapist can be a process that’s hard to navigate. Spotting the differences between therapists and knowing who is a good fit takes time and energy. When you are already struggling with your mental health, you might not feel like you have the extra bandwidth. The categories below are intended to help you seek out a professional with more ease, less stress, and greater chances of working well together.

In person therapy is the type of therapy that you typically visualize when you think of therapy. You are sitting in a room one-on-one with a therapist, there are couches or comfortable chairs, and you are opening up about what is going on for you. There are benefits to attending in person therapy sessions. Having a space separate from your everyday life where you are able to express yourself can be cathartic. More attention can be paid to body language and subtle movements. However, if in person therapy is not an option for you, online therapy has been vetted as effective despite these differences.

Online therapy has become a popular option since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Many therapists are now offering fully online or hybrid therapy sessions. There are two different iterations of online therapy, and it is important to understand the differences between them.

This type of online therapy is offered by individual counselors. There is no affiliation with large-scale companies, and you may receive this option even when signing up for sessions with a therapist in your area. Online therapy offered through group or private practices has been shown to be comparable to attending in-person sessions (although each person is likely to have an individual preference).

Large-scale companies offering only online therapy are showing up more and more often. These are the companies you might see advertised on social media (i.e. BetterHelp or Talkspace). Although it is possible to find a suitable therapist through these platforms, additional caution should be taken. Licensure requirements may be looser, therapists may be pressured to see large numbers of people, and/or therapists may be underpaid. When in doubt, ask questions! Taking a deeper look into the policies and procedures of these platforms gives you agency over the quality of care you receive.

Although different types of therapists may share the common goal of helping people, they tend to look at their work through different lenses. No therapy degree is inherently better or worse than another. It is most helpful to consider the varying approaches and choose the one that is most in line with your philosophy and needs.

A psychiatrist is technically a medical doctor. Psychiatrists attended medical school and are qualified to prescribe medications. They are useful if you are seeking medication as an option for mental health symptoms, and are often seen alongside participating in therapy.

A psychologist received a four-year postgraduate degree to qualify them to meet with clients. Their education is usually centered on a biological and mental illness based perspective. They are able to diagnose conditions such as generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder, and subsequently focus on relieving the symptoms of these disorders to help you feel better. They also have the ability to perform testing to assist in diagnosing disorders.

There are a number of two year degree options that therapists take on their path to seeing clients, the most common of which are named above. After these two years, therapists receive additional training with clients in order to obtain their full licensure. Therapists with these titles are also qualified to provide anxiety disorder and other DSM diagnoses. They differ from psychologists and psychiatrists in that they are trained to consider the social and environmental factors that may be additionally impairing your mental health challenges.

Just like doctors, therapists have specialities. You wouldn’t want to see a cardiologist for a broken foot. Likewise, it’s less recommended to see a therapist who specializes in personality disorders if you are struggling with anxiety and panic. It’s worthwhile to check your potential therapist’s website and/or listings on directories - professionals commonly list their specialities there.

Asking questions during your initial consultation or session with your potential therapist is another way to learn what their specialties are. Remember, you are interviewing them as much as they are interviewing you. The more specific the better! Some helpful questions may be:

• What are your past experiences working with clients who have similar challenges to mine?
• What is your general philosophy on mental health and what I am struggling with?
• How long have you been practicing? What settings have you worked in?
• Do you enjoy and feel effective working with the types of issues I have expressed?
• What therapy modalities do you use for symptoms relating to anxiety?

Some people find a therapist who blends with their needs on the first try. However, if you are uncertain about or discouraged by the answers to these questions, don’t give up. It is also common to attend several initial meetings before you find a therapist you think you’ll click with.

There are several different ways to find a therapist. They include:

Due to the rise in technology, most therapists market themselves online. There are popular therapist directories where professionals list their availability, specialties, and a brief biography about themselves. These listings can be accessed either via Google search or by going to the websites directly. This option is convenient for those wanting to look at multiple options and compare potential therapists to one another. A few directories to try include Psychology Today, GoodTherapy, My Wellbeing, and Zencare.

If you are looking to use your insurance for therapy, therapists who are paneled will be listed on that insurance company’s directory. This is a good option for those who are looking to avoid the hassle of figuring out whether or not a potential provider accepts their plan. Insurance companies may also be able to recommend therapists who have listed themselves as having certain specialties.

If someone you know likes their therapist, it doesn’t hurt to inquire further! Make sure this person is comfortable sharing their therapist’s information and that you would be comfortable sharing a therapist with this person. Disclosing the word of mouth relationship to the therapist is also important, as they will need to decide if working with both parties is in line with their ethics. If seeing the same therapist does not work out, additional referrals or recommendations can usually be provided.

The most crucial component of success in therapy is a “good fit” between therapist and client. Research has displayed that, regardless of perceived expertise, a therapist you do not get along with is less effective than a therapist you enjoy. This often means there is a blend of training in what you are struggling with a general personality match.

No guide can tell you everything you need to know about finding the right therapist. How you will interact with a therapist in the room can only be determined by meeting them. So, use the above concepts as a guide, but know that the best way to start getting the help you need will always be by putting yourself out there and seeing what works.

https://www.counseling.org/aca-community/learn-about-counseling/what-is-counseling/find-a-counselor

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/

“Psychology Today is the world’s largest mental health and behavioral science destination online. It is the original and largest publishing enterprise that is exclusively dedicated to human behavior. Our motto is “Here to Help,” and the resources you’re accessing right now are the worldwide destination of choice for expert-authored information about psychology and mental health.”

https://locator.apa.org/

“APA is the leading scientific and professional organization representing psychology in the United States, with more than 133,000 researchers, educators, clinicians, consultants, and students as its members. Our mission is to promote the advancement, communication, and application of psychological science and knowledge to benefit society and improve lives.”

“At Healthgrades, we take the guesswork out of finding the right doctors, hospitals, and care for you and your family. By making healthcare easier and more transparent, Healthgrades empowers you to make decisions based on information, not just instinct. You can rest easy knowing you and your family are receiving proven, high-quality care that's right for you.”

• https://www.healthgrades.com/psychotherapy-directory
• https://www.healthgrades.com/counseling-directory
• https://www.healthgrades.com/psychiatry-directory

www.findatherapist.com

“Find A Therapist allows you to locate a therapist in your area. You can browse and compare therapists to find the one that best fits your needs. We first launched our website back in 1997. Although the site itself has changed ownership, we have continued with the same mission: to connect people who need help with licensed mental health professionals who can help them.”