How to Find a Therapist, Tips you should Know

Deciding to go to therapy is a significant step towards healing, but that doesn’t mean it's intimidating. The process to try and find a helpful, suitable therapist involves a few different steps, and in order to attain the best care, it’s important to have a good understanding of them all.

That’s why we turned to Dr Anisha Patel Dunn, Chief Medical Officer at LifeStance Health, a nationwide network of mental health providers for those seeking treatment to share details on how one can find a proper therapist.

Recognize the signs that it might be time for therapy

Before looking for a therapist, you need to know if it’s the right moment to go.

If you are finding it hard or difficult to concentrate or focus on everyday tasks, seek therapy once in worthwhile. Having different challenges with friends or relationships may be a sign that it’s time to get some help.

Talk to your parents or family members

Involving your parents or guardians about your mental health struggles can be extremely beneficial, especially if you are aware that they’re already visiting a clinician themselves. Opening up this dialogue allows you to express what kind of resources you need and your family can help you access a therapist in your family’s network.

Speak to a trusted adult

If you don’t feel comfortable or aren’t in the position to open up to your immediate family, seek out a trusted adult like a teacher or your doctor. “It may be an aunt, a neighbor, or your mom's best friend who you grew up with. If you are a student, it's better to seek help from your school’s counselor. These individuals are there for support and could be someone to turn to.

Know your options

Therapy isn’t as easily accessible as it should be, and it can often be very expensive. For that reason, there are a number of lower-cost alternatives to consider. For example, if you are a student, there is often free counseling available through your school.

There are community mental health centers that are government funded facilities that offer services at a lower cost like online support groups.

Do your research

When searching for a therapist, make sure you identify their specialty and expertise. This is one of the best ways of narrowing down who is right for you. Considering factors such as the gender age, race, ethnicity

Give yourself two to three sessions

Allow yourself the time to figure out whether you need a therapist to sort your needs or not. That typically can’t be done in one session so it’s better you attend at least two to three sessions before making a final decision.

Be open to the process

It might take a while before you find a match, but aim to be as engaged as possible throughout the process. It’s easier said than done, but try to work through the discouragement of not immediately finding a suitable therapist. During sessions, ask questions especially about any recommended medication and discuss what you’d like to achieve in therapy.

Additionally, don’t stress the importance of getting enough sleep, going outside for fresh air, exercising, and drinking lots of water, these are all integral in maintaining a healthy mindset and its better you also don't forget your basics if you’re not feeling right

All in all, everyone’s therapy experience is different. But hopefully, with a few suggestions to get you started, the journey to healing won’t appear so hard and discouraging.