Tips for Finding a Good Therapist Near You

Are you struggling with stress or relationship issues and are ready to get help, but you are unsure where to start? Find the perfect therapist close to you with these helpful tips.

If you are struggling with worry thoughts, feel like you can’t relax or constantly feel on edge, speaking with a qualified therapist can be a great way to get relief from your symptoms and feel more grounded and in control of your life. However, the task of researching and figuring who the right therapist is for you can be difficult. In this article, I look at some of the best tips for finding a good therapist near you.

Look into the types of specialized care

Before you start looking for a therapist, look into the types of therapy or specialized care available for the treatment of your symptoms. Depending on the severity and type of your symptoms, you may benefit from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) or Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT). It’s important to find someone who is knowledgeable about the type of difficulties you are experiencing and has experience treating them effectively.

For example, in my practice when treating anxiety, I utilize CBT to challenge repetitive automatic thoughts (e.g., “I always mess up,” “I am such an idiot,” “what if I made the wrong decision?”) as well as to explore core beliefs you may hold about yourself (e.g., “I am not good enough”), which in turn drive those automatic thoughts. I also rely on DBT, in particular self-soothing with the 5 senses, breathing exercises, and labeling emotions. These strategies allow you to reduce your heart rate, which in turn will send a signal to the brain that you are safe and can then think more clearly on how to proceed in a given situation instead of being stuck in a fight/flight/freeze mode.

Consider different cost structures and insurance coverage options.

When looking for a therapist, be sure to check your health insurance benefits to find out if your health plan offers in-network or out-of-network coverage for outpatient mental health services. With in-network coverage, you will be responsible for any co-pay, co-insurance or deductible set by your insurance plan.

With out-of-network coverage, you will be responsible for the therapist’s fee and in turn they can provide you with a superbill you can submit to your insurance company for reimbursement. Most insurance plans reimburse up to 80% of the therapist’s fee, so don’t limit your search to in-network providers.

Have an initial consultation with potential therapists.

There are a number of ways to look for a therapist near you. If you type “therapist near me” in Google you will see a list of therapists near you on Google Maps. You can check out their websites and see if they resonate with what you are looking for. There are also a number of therapist directories such as Psychology Today, Good Therapy, and Mental Health Match. On those websites, you can filter your search by type of issue you are struggling with, types of therapy, gender, age, price and whether in-person or online therapy feels like the right fit.

Many therapists offer a 15-20min free consultation call. I highly recommend you do that, so you can get a better feel for their style and to make sure you feel comfortable starting treatment with a given therapist. Feel free to be honest about your expectations, mental health history and ask about the best course of treatment. Not every therapist will be a good fit for every client. The initial consultation will help you decide if you feel comfortable enough to continue building a therapeutic relationship with them in the long run.

Veselina Hristova Jones, LICSW, is a Boston-area therapist based in Wellesley, MA, who specializes in anxiety, depression, and relationship issues. She provides compassionate, evidence-based therapy to adults across Massachusetts through secure online sessions, as well as in-person therapy for clients in Wellesley, Newton, Weston, Needham, Natick, and Framingham.