How do I find a therapist?
Finding the right therapist can be a difficult task and there are so many different ways you can find one. Psychology Today and Goodtherapy are great resources as they verify licensed therapists and they each have a Therapist Finder where you may find a therapist local to you. You can also look on Yelp or search for the term “therapist finder”. You can find my Psychology Today listing here and my Goodtherapy.org listing here, for an example of what a listing may look like.
One of the classic and most common ways to find a therapist is word of mouth. Ask your family, friends, co-workers, doctor, yoga instructor, hair stylist, or anyone in your life that you trust for their opinion for a therapist they trust. You may also have insurance and check with your provider if there are any therapists you can see. Your insurance provider will have a list of therapists they have available through them.
How do I know if they are the right therapist?
Once you find a therapist or have a few suggestions, you can still shop around. You can call a therapist and have a phone conversation for 15 minutes to see if they would be a good fit. Many therapists have free or low cost first sessions, also known as assessments, where you can visit with a therapist to see if you want to sign up for therapy with them. I, for instance, have what I call a “worry free” assessment. If you think I am a good fit then you pay for the assessment and second session on your second visit. If you don’t think I am a good fit then you don’t have to pay for the assessment and I will give a few recommendations for other therapists. Finally, many therapists understand therapy is expensive and have a sliding scale for people who are experiencing any financial hardships, offering lower cost sessions.
You do not need to feel as if the first therapist you sign up with is the therapist you have to stick with. Find the one that works with you.
Finding a Therapist if you are kinky or practice BDSM.
The National Coalition for Sexual Freedom (NCSF) runs a Kink Aware Professional list where a therapist, doctor, lawyer, accountant, and many other professionals can be found that are aware and comfortable with working with kinky individuals. With people being discriminated against for their sexual behavior, it becomes helpful to have professionals not judging their clients. You can find my Kink Aware Professional listing here, for an example of what a listing may look like.
Finding a Therapist if you are LGBTQ+.
Gaylesta: The Psychotherapist Association for Gender and Sexual Diversity is one of the oldest and largest origination of professionals focused on LGBTQ mental health. Their members offer a range of services, experience, specializations, and expertise. Gaylesta also prizes their advocacy and works create better services for the LGBTQ community. You can find my Gaylesta Professional listing here, for an example of what a listing may look like.