How to Find a Therapist

Looking for a therapist can be a daunting task! Putting your mental well-being into the hands of someone is a big deal, and you want to make sure this person knows what they're doing. Below is a tutorial that will help educate you about the world of therapy and therapists, and hopefully will make this decision as easy and effective for you as possible. 

Know What You're Looking For
The first step in this process is to have some idea of what you are looking for and why you are looking. What has happened recently that has lead you to seek therapy? What are the main issues that are bringing you to therapy, and what are your expectations for how therapy might help you.


Do you have a sense of what kind of therapist you might feel best with? A male or female. Is there a certain age the therapist should be? Do you know the various credentials and licenses to look for?

Location
Where is the therapist's office located? Is it convenient for you. Having to drive a long distrance through traffic might make going to therapy a hastle. See if you can find someone close to your home or your work.

Cost
Therapy in the Pasadena, CA area varies greatly in expense. You can spend up to $200+ for a 50 minute session. Many factors determine what therapists charge including their degree (MA, PhD, PsyD), license (MFT, Psychologist), how many years they have been in practice, overhead costs, their philosophy on the value of therapy. Know what you can afford before you call. Figure out how much you can afford to spend on a weekly basis and go from there. Many therapists offer a sliding scale based on financial need. 

Insurance
Are you planning to use insurance to pay for your therapy? Keep in mind that many therapists, and usually the most experienced, don't take insurance. There are many reasons for this including wanting to protect patient privacy, avoiding low reimbursement rates for mental health, and wanting to keep decisions regarding client care out of the hands of large insurance companies. Many therapists do provide a monthly statement of your therapy expense that can often be submitted to your insurance company for reimbursement.


 

Now What?
Once you've figured out all of the above, it's time to start looking. A great place to start is to ask friends, family members and other aquantances for a referal. Ask your massage therapist, hairdresser, doctor, chiropractor, teacher, etc. Who do they see, what do they like about that therapist and why?

Search the internet! A growing place to do some intial research is the internet. Therapist finder sites are popping up everywhere. Just simply type "find a therapist" into google and see what happens! You have a few options here. One is to search through the therapist finder websites (Psychology Today, GoodTherapy.org., NetworkTherapy, Ther 


 

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Ask for a referal

Internet Search

Short List

Initial Interview/Consultation

Negotiating a Rate


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