The journey of deciding to start therapy (or starting again) is a deeply personal one. When you are already struggling, stressed and needing support, it can feel overwhelming to find someone who is a good fit for you, available and in your budget. Then add on the stress of years of highly triggering collective traumas and an increased demand for therapists.
But once you make the decision to start therapy, where do you start? Below are some tips for you or loved ones you may be helping to get into therapy.
We recommend starting with an online therapist directory or your insurance company. If you have the time, you can certainly try both. Here are some directories that we recommend trying out:
Psychology Today, find therapists, psychiatrists and support groups to meet your needs
Inclusive Therapists, making it simpler and safer for BIPOC and people in marginalized communities to find care
Reclamation Collective, for folks who are recovering from religious trauma, spiritual abuse and/or adverse religious experiences
Your health insurance company, go to the website or call the number on the back of your insurance card to ask about your mental health benefits. You can also search for local therapists who are in-network with your insurance. Some insurance companies may be able to provide you with a list of in-network therapists upon request.
In most of these directories, you can search and filter by location, insurance company and/or price-per-session range. You have the option to filter as much or as little as you want if you are looking for a therapist who serves people of a specific ethnicity, sexuality, language or faith. With filters you can also identify if you have a preference for therapists of a certain gender and/or age.
Whether going through Psychology Today, emailing therapists directly or filling out a contact form through their website, we suggest contacting as many therapists at once since they may not all reply. Try not to take this personally! A therapist may not respond because they haven’t updated their profiles/may no longer be accepting new clients or a certain insurance anymore. Yes, it’s quite frustrating to reach out and not hear back but we encourage you to continue on your search.
Finally, most therapists offer a free consultation phone call before booking a session to see if they’d be a good fit and meet your needs. Here is a template you may consider using and adjusting to your needs and preferences:
Hello,
I am looking for a therapist who is in-network with ______ [enter insurance company here].
(OR if you don’t plan on using insurance or don’t have insurance):
I’d like to find out more about your cost per session.
(Note some practices offer sliding scale availability and/or interns who may offer free or low-cost sessions).
I live in _______ [enter your state of residence here] and am looking for __________ [in-person or virtual] sessions.
Optional: If you’re looking for a certain focus or specialty, feel free to add 1-3 sentences about your goals and/or specific issues you are seeking support for.
Thanks,
_________ (your name here)
If you are interested in exploring if one of our Collaborative InSights clinicians may be a good fit for you, contact us here. We offer a free 15 minute consultation for all of our services, including low-cost therapy sessions and other holistic mental health services.
Whether you choose to work with us or are looking for someone who takes insurance or is just a better fit for you, we hope you find what you’re looking for and that some of these tips help you on your journey!
Written by Anna Marchese, MSW, LCSW, Mental Health Therapist, Reiki Master & Yoga Teacher at Collaborative InSights, LLC.
