How to Find a Therapist: Questions To Help You Make The Best Choice For You

We don’t want to be extreme and finding the right therapist for you can be more important than any other relationship in your life.

This is a person who will hear your story, your patterns, about your relationships, and how you function in the world.

Therapists are people who can provide objective opinions without giving advice.

Read More: “The Light Side of Therapy. (Because It’s Not Always Hard)”

In fact, quality therapists will not give you advice, no matter how much you may want advice on a topic.

They are people who are in your corner when you need it most, can save your life, and call BS when you are tired of playing out the same story.

They can help you to grow to become your favorite version of yourself.

Though all these things can be true, it can be difficult to find the right therapist for you.

The Importance of Finding the Right Therapist 

It can be important to find the right therapist so that your values, beliefs, and general view of the world can align.

Race, religion, sexual orientation, identity, spirituality, and values can all be reasons that you see a certain therapist or don’t.

Not every therapist is going to share your belief system and affirming your own identity can be necessary when you are being vulnerable.

For this reason, asking your therapists about what they believe can be a reason you pursue a relationship with them or don’t.

Generational trauma, addiction, poverty, and racism can all be factors that you discuss during a therapy session.

For this reason, it can be vital to find a therapist who understands your own plight before you commit.

If you identify a certain way, having a therapist match who you are can be imperative.

Therapists don’t necessarily need to have endured your identical struggle to be helpful.

Read More: “Men and Therapy: More Men Are Seeking Help”

Having similar beliefs about the world and how it aligns in their approach to supporting their clients can be beneficial.

Regardless of your reason for seeking therapy support it is important to be curious about your therapist’s values and approach and how they feel to you.

While there is a lot that goes into feeling good with your therapist, often, when there is alignment in values and approach between you and your therapist that may be a good start.

Once you have recognized that you’d like to start a search for a therapist, what is the next step?

How to Start Your Search for a Therapist 

There are many ways to start your search, and Google can be a great launchpad to finding a therapist that works for you. By searching “Find a therapist near me” or “Therapist in Denver” for instance, you will find a place to start your search.

Other search platforms are Psychology Today, Good Therapy, and Therapy Den (to name a few).

Within a therapist profile on these platforms and a therapist’s personal websites, several pieces of crucial information may be listed like types of therapy the therapist provides, whether they accept your insurance, and how they approach their clients.

If you are suffering from depression, it can be helpful to find a therapist who specializes in depression. Your search may be “depression therapy in Denver” or “help for Depression“.

Your initial reason for therapy doesn’t have to be the reason you stay in therapy.

Your relationship with your therapist may evolve, and it is okay if they start out being a great fit but no longer fulfill your needs.

Some employers provide a workplace wellness or employee assistance program.

This can be a great place to start your search because it is a concentrated group of clinicians who likely take your insurance if it is through your employer.

Another way to find a therapist for you is to let your social networks know that you are in need.

Read More: “From Chaos To Clarity: How Therapy Can Help You Navigate Life’s Transitions”

Word of mouth is incredibly helpful when it comes to finding a therapist who can help you.

If you are getting a referral from a friend, chances are you are likely aligned with beliefs and values already.

Social media can also be a wonderful way to find a therapist. If you are relating to the posts of a therapist or practice, you may gel well with the people there.

It can be helpful to follow a few therapists who are intriguing to you and go from there.

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Therapist 

There are several factors that can be helpful when you are choosing a therapist.

Some factors may include:

1. Insurance and finances – what can you afford? Do you need to use insurance?

2. Location and availability – Does the therapist’s schedule align with your availability? Can you adjust to make their availability work in your schedule if not? If you are seeking in-person therapy, finding a therapist near you that meets your needs can make getting to therapy easier. Though it’s not always possible to find the best fit in a location near you, Telehealth is an option for most therapists these days.

3. Alignment with identity – if this is important to you, be curious about a therapist’s identities. Find a therapist who aligns with your identity or the identities of a therapist that are important to you.

4. Felt comfortable talking with them during your initial consultation –  Do they answer all your questions? Do they ask about you and your needs or wants? Do you feel comfortable talking with them?

5. They specialize and have advanced training in what you are seeking therapy for – Is the therapist your considering able to help you with what you need help with? Do they have advanced training in what you are seeking support for? Are they part of consultation groups and ongoing learning to better support their clients?

6. Pass the gut check – just because a therapist checks the boxes above, doesn’t mean they are the best fit. What does your gut say as you learn more about them? How do you feel with them during your first, second, tenth session?

If these factors don’t match what you are looking for, you may have to continue your search, depending on how you are prioritizing these considerations.

Conclusion: Finding the Perfect Therapist is a Personal Journey 

Ultimately, making decisions about your mental health is up to you.

There are several qualified therapists who may not be the right fit for you. Think about what is most important to you, and pursue leads based on that information.

You may start with a therapist and realize that you are no longer a match. That is okay too.

Like any relationship, it can be important to feel like you can learn and grow when you see your therapist.

There are funny sessions, and there can be difficult sessions. You may want to find a therapist who can do both.

At Denver Metro Counseling, we do not have a one-size-fits-all approach, and we may be the size that fits you.

It is important to us to foster the growth of our clinicians so that they can continue to walk the talk.

We also see therapists because we know the impact and benefits to our own mental health.

Finding a therapist isn’t always easy, and we have found it to be more than worth it.