How to choose the right therapist for you
You JUST realized you had a problem and you need help - but now you have to go through the trouble of finding a therapist. There are so many acronyms and specialties - how do you know if you’re choosing the right therapist?
First things first: basic terms and definitions
The therapy world has dozens of different acronyms and terms that are unique and hard to understand when you’re not part of that world. Here are common acronyms for master’s level therapists (aka they have their master’s degree):
LMFT - licensed marriage and family therapist
LCSW - licensed clinical social worker
LPCC - licensed professional clinical counselor
The difference between the education required for 3 licenses is very minimal. They’re all licensed with the state. The primary difference will be the therapist’s experience. Sometimes, you’ll see acronyms like AMFT or ACSW or APCC - this simply means the therapist has their master’s degree but is still working on licensure with the state. Master’s level therapists provide traditional therapy, so if you’re looking for therapy without any special evaluations (like Autism or ADHD) then master’s level therapists would be most helpful.
Next, there are doctorate level therapists (aka psychologists): PhD’s and PsyD’s. Education for a PhD is research-forward with clinical experience. Education for a PsyD is clinical-forward with some research experience. Psychologists can do testing that master’s level therapists can’t. So if you’re looking for an ADHD or Autism evaluation - a doctorate level therapist is most helpful.
Lastly, there is the psychiatrist. Psychiatrists are MD’s. They’re doctors that exclusively prescribe mental health medication. They typically don’t provide any therapy. They simply provide medication.
Researching the right therapist
The first thing to do when choosing a therapist is to do your research. Luckily in the internet era, there is so much information available online. You don’t have to rely on word-of-mouth if you don’t want to. Allow me to introduce you to Psychology Today. A mental health website that contains the hub of therapist bios. Psychology Today makes it easy to figure out the primary things you need to know when choosing the right therapist: specialty, fees/insurance, location, and a general sense of who they are and what they can provide for you. Here’s my profile as an example of what a therapist’s profile would look like.
After you land on a few Psychology Today profiles, therapists will often have their own websites (under their picture on the left-hand side) you can look at, too. If someone looks like a potential therapist for you, browse their website to look at their experience to see if it aligns with what you’re looking for. Remember, it doesn’t have to be the same life experience as you. You‘re looking to see if the therapist has treated what you’re going through before. For example, I spent years working in the school system with neurotypical and neurodiverse students and families. If you’re looking for a therapist for your 70-year-old mom, I would not be the best fit.
It’s also important to decide if you want your therapist to have the same cultural or racial identity as you. If you’re looking to talk about your culture in your sessions, this may be something you want to consider. To get a head start, instead of Psychology Today you can take a peek at: Inclusive Therapists, Therapy for Black Girls, and Latinx Therapy.
One last note: Therapy Den is another platform similar to Psychology Today that’s worth checking out. As an example, here is my Therapy Den profile. It provides similar information to Psychology Today, but in a different format. Sometimes you don’t find what you’re looking for on one platform, and that’s okay.
So you have a few therapists in mind, what’s next?
Next, we look at the cost.
On any therapist website or platform, they list their fees and insurance(s) that they take.
You have a few options for paying for therapy:
Insurance
HSA account
Cash/check/credit card
Let’s say you find the perfect therapist but they’re not in-network with your insurance and you can’t afford their fee. You can ask the therapist for a sliding scale fee which is a reduced fee based on your income. Some therapists do this, some don’t, but it’s always worth an ask.
Last, it’s time to schedule the consultation.
Most therapists offer a 15-20 minute free consultation where you can ask all of your questions and get a more accurate sense of who they are. It’s okay to schedule multiple consultations before deciding on the right therapist. Typically they’ll tell you how their sessions work and a bit of their background, but most of the conversation will be geared toward your problems and your needs. You’ll likely be asked about your goal for therapy. This is where you can ask about sliding scale (reduced) fees if you need it. If you like the therapist, then great! Schedule an appointment. If you don’t like the therapist, then that’s fine too. You can end the consultation without scheduling an appointment. Therapists know that they aren’t a good fit for everyone.
Is this really all it takes?
Yes! Finding a therapist comes down to a few basic things: research, cost, and the consultation. It’s common to look through several therapists before deciding on one that appears to be a good fit. Best of luck finding the right therapist for you!
