How to Find the Right Therapist

Choosing the right therapist can take some time. Give yourself space to search for counselors in your area. If you’re open to meeting online, you can usually expand your search statewide. You have the right to ask questions about a therapist’s approach, experience, schedule, and cost. Remember, even if a therapist does not accept insurance, you may still be able to use your out-of-network benefits and get reimbursed from your insurance company.

Where to look for a therapist:

• Directories

  • Psychology Today

  • Therapy Den

  • Good Therapy

  • Choosing Therapy

  • Thriving Campus: for college students

  • Therapy Tribe

  • Mental Health Match

  • Open Path Collective: reduced rate therapy

• Google Search (examples:)

  • “therapists near Nashville”

  • “art therapist for highly sensitive person”

  • “therapy for overwhelm and anxiety”

• Ask Your Community

  • Friends

  • Family members

  • Trusted people in your life

Questions to ask your potential therapist:

• How do you approach what I’m struggling with?

• What would we work on to improve _________?

• Typically, how structured are sessions?

• Do you give homework?

• How long have you worked with similar situations to mine?

• This is my budget for therapy. Are you able to accommodate it?

• When would we meet?

• Would we meet in-person or online?

When is it the right fit?

You may have found a great therapist for you if…

• you feel a connection with them

• you want to know more about how they would help you

• you feel hopeful

• you’re comfortable with the financial and time commitment

• you feel curious and want to start working on your goals

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Remember, even after you start working with a therapist, you can still communicate concerns or ask questions. If a few sessions go by and you’re not feeling confident that it’s the right fit, you’re allowed to stop seeing that therapist. It may be beneficial for you to express your concerns and share your decision in session, if you’re comfortable and willing to do so. Having an open conversation about it can help you experience a healthy ending of a relationship, which isn’t always common in our day-to-day life. That being said, trust your gut. If you need to end therapy via email or phone call, you can do that, too.

Do you have more questions about finding your therapist? Reach out and we can chat about it.