Finding the Right Therapist for You

Looking for a Therapist

Finding a therapist is something that involves detective work and patience. You don’t know if you’re going to click with that professional unless you try out a session or two. Once you start seeing a therapist, it may be a long-term relationship, and you’ll want to feel comfortable with that person. The point of therapy is to feel open and honest enough that you can work on your problems. It’s a challenging process to look at oneself in the mirror and decide what needs to change. Sometimes you’re not sure what those shifts are.

Clicking With Your Therapist

I know from personal experience, it took a while to find the right therapist and a relationship that worked for me. I wanted to be able to open up and talk about what was going through my mind, but it was hard for me. That feeling of being stuck in your head is natural when you’re searching for the right mental health professional. It takes a while to trust someone who is a stranger and open up about how you’re struggling.

However, once you do find the right fit, it’s like going to the store and trying on a pair of jeans that look like you’ve already owned them for years. That’s the feeling you’re looking for when you sit down with the right counselor or therapist. You’re not going to get along with every therapist you meet. That’s why spending the time shopping around for someone who gets you is worth it.

Paying for Therapy

Therapy isn’t necessarily cheap, but if you have insurance and manage to find a clinician who takes it, that’s a bonus. However, it’s not so straightforward for some people to navigate the insurance system and locate a therapist who you click with and takes your insurance. Then the issue becomes, how do you find a therapist who is both affordable and excellent at what they do? There is no straightforward answer to this question. You first try to look through your insurance provider’s directory and see what you find.

If you need to look outside of the confines of your insurance, there are websites where you can find a therapist, whether that’s online or in person. Online therapists tend to be more affordable than mental health professionals who don’t take your insurance. It’s possible to see a competent and caring online therapist who meets your needs.

What Do You Need in a Therapist?

You might be looking for a mental health professional who practices a type of therapy you’re looking for like CBT (Cognitive Behavior Therapy). Finding a therapist with a specialty can help you narrow things down and come up with someone who meets your needs best. For someone who is managing OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder), they might be searching for a therapist who specializes in exposure therapy, whereas someone who struggles with PTSD might choose EMDR therapy (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing). For any mental health issues, there is a type of therapist who focuses on your challenges.

Don’t Give Up

Sometimes it takes a while to find a therapist, and that’s OK. Be patient while you’re searching for the right match for you. It’s sort of like dating; you probably need to go on a bunch of dates before you find the right partner for you. Don’t beat yourself up if it takes some time to get a therapist that works for your particular needs. Whether you choose an online therapist or find someone to work with in person, there are many ways to get the help you need. You deserve to be happy, and if you keep looking, the right therapist for you will come along.