How to Find the Best Therapist for Your Needs

Choosing a therapist is personal, and it may take a little work to find the one who is the best fit for you, especially if this is a first-time experience, you’re not sure where to start, and you have no sense of what to look for.

This article on how to find the best therapist aims at providing you with the basic information and practical suggestions you need to help point you in the right direction so that you know what to look for and guide you through the selection process.

Important Issues to Consider Before You Begin Your Search

As you search for how to find the best therapist, it is helpful to have an idea of what you are looking for. Maybe you need help managing a specific issue, such as depression or anxiety, improving the way you communicate with others, or working through the effects of a traumatic experience.

Perhaps you don’t have a clear-cut goal but would just like to feel better, learn some practical tools for coping with and navigating stressful situations, or simply have a safe space where you can talk openly about your issues without feeling judged.

Other important issues include verifying credentials, checking insurance coverage, and demographic preferences. Will therapy be covered by insurance, for instance, or will you need to pay out of pocket? Or would you be more comfortable seeing someone of a specific gender, age, race, religious affiliation, culture, or background?

Types of Therapists

Therapists have a range of degrees and titles that indicate their different levels of education and training, and the letters after their names can be confusing.

Psychologists (PhD/PsyD), for instance, are mental health professionals with doctorate degrees who are qualified to diagnose and treat mental health conditions.

Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSWs) hold a master’s degree or higher, can diagnose and treat mental health conditions, and are also able to connect you to resources in your community.

Licensed Professional Counselors or Therapists (LPC/LCPC/LMHC) have a master’s degree or higher and can diagnose and treat mental health disorders.

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFTs) specialize in issues relating to couples, families, and relationships.

Although studies have shown that a therapist’s specific degree or the letters following their name may not be as important as their approach to therapy and your connection with them, you need to make sure that they are licensed mental health professionals who have met licensing qualifications.

Determine whether they have an advanced degree, passed a licensing test and background check, follow specific guidelines and ethical codes, and that they have the right specialization and experience to treat your issue.

If your insurance covers the cost of therapy, your therapist also needs to be licensed to practice in your state.

Types of Therapy Therapists Provide

Therapists use different approaches to help you work through your challenges. Some approaches, for instance, focus on thoughts and behaviors, help you identify maladaptive patterns in your thinking, and learn to identify and reframe them.

Other approaches may focus on emotions, relationships, and past experiences, and how early childhood wounds may still be shaping your reactions today. Some examples include:

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) CBT focuses on helping you recognize and reframe maladaptive thought patterns and behaviors.

Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) DBT helps you learn how to regulate your emotions and improve your relationships, and equips you with practical techniques for coping with difficult situations.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) Acceptance and commitment therapy focuses on the here and now and teaches you to acknowledge and accept your emotions and feelings without judging them, rather than trying to control or fix them.

Psychodynamic Therapy Psychodynamic therapy focuses on past influences and helps you gain insight into how early childhood experiences may subconsciously affect your present behavior, feelings, and relationships.

Starting Your Search

A good place to begin your search is by asking for recommendations and checking online directories and resources such as Google or Yelp, which typically provide detailed profiles including credentials, specialties, insurances the therapists accept, location, and availability, as well as reviews and testimonials that can offer insight into their approaches and success rate.

Make a list of possible candidates and then narrow it down by visiting the websites and social media pages of the therapists on your list, where you can read their bios and posts, and get a better sense of their communication style, personality, and who they are.

After you have done your research and narrowed down your list of possible candidates, reach out to them by e-mail or a phone call to introduce yourself, tell them what your concerns are and why you are seeking therapy, what you are hoping to achieve, why you think they may be a good fit, and ask them what their availability is.

Use their responses to further narrow down your list according to whether or not they have openings, are in an easily accessible location, take your insurance, are able to work with your schedule, have an understanding of the area you want to work on, and are able to help you with the issues you need help with.

Pick three to five you have the best feelings about and set up an appointment for a short consultation, either in person or over the phone, so you can ask questions, gauge your comfort level with them, and assess how well you connect.

Examples of questions to ask during this initial interview include:

• How much experience they have had working with others who have your specific type of challenge.
• How long sessions last and how often per week they would want to see you.
• Whether they conduct virtual as well as in-person sessions.
• Whether they use a blended approach or stick strictly to one specific method.
• How much they charge per session and whether they have a sliding scale according to income if you don’t have insurance, or are willing to set up a payment plan.
• If there is a fee for missed or canceled sessions.
• Whether they accept texts or phone calls.
• And how long they anticipate therapy for your issue to take – would it be short-term or long-term.

Therapy is a relationship with another person. Rapport is important. You don’t just want someone with the right degree or price range, but rather, someone you feel comfortable with, who gets you, and whose style aligns with your needs.

You’ll know when you have found the right therapist for you when you feel safe, supported, and motivated when you meet with them.

Signs of a Good Therapist

Studies indicate that the number one predictor of successful therapy is not training, years of experience, or the type of therapy itself, but rather, your relationship with your therapist. It’s having an empathetic connection with him or her that enables you to feel safe opening up and allowing yourself to be vulnerable.

Although having more experience and training may be helpful, in the end, what makes a therapist great are personality factors such as compassion, insightfulness, and understanding.

In addition to being knowledgeable about your specific issues, a good therapist is genuine, totally present with you, able to tune into what you are feeling, comprehend the struggles you are describing, interpret the thoughts and feelings you express, and put them into words for you, and is someone who validates you and respects your point of view.

In-Person Versus Virtual Therapy

Both in-person and virtual therapy can be equally effective. The right choice is a matter of what you feel most comfortable with.

Benefits of in-person therapy include meeting face-to-face with someone in a dedicated space and being able to pick up on subtle nonverbal cues.

Virtual therapy, on the other hand, makes therapy more easily accessible as you are not limited by location. It can also be more convenient, save time, and be of special benefit to people with busy schedules, limited local options, transportation challenges, or who may be homebound.

Secular Versus Christian Therapy

Some believers are under the false impression that seeking therapy is unbiblical or indicates a lack of faith. When grounded in biblical truth, however, therapy can be a powerful tool that complements your spiritual growth.

Both secular and Christian therapy focus on decreasing symptoms of distress, improving the ability to function in daily life, and developing coping skills for managing stress. However, secular therapy emphasizes autonomy and self-fulfillment rather than acknowledging God’s sovereignty and obeying His wisdom and authority.

Christian counseling, on the other hand, combines conventional strategies with biblical principles and insights, spiritual support, and prayer. If you would like to set up an appointment to meet with one of the faith-based counselors in our online directory, please give us a call.