If you are reading this, you are likely on the right track to finding the right therapist.
The first and hardest part of this process is beginning the search. Finding the right therapist can be difficult, but it is important to remember that you are in control. Likely in this search, you have stumbled across psychologytoday.com. This is one of the most common ways for therapists to advertise their practice. This is where I also advertise my services.
The first thing you will be looking for is a therapist that is licensed in your state. This should be clearly shown in their ad. Search criteria can also be cut down to include the types of therapy they provide, the issues they deal with, and a blurb of how they are speaking to clients they haven’t met yet. Find a few that speak to you, take your insurance or charge a price you feel is fair, and message at least three at a time to give yourself options.
Is $100 too expensive for therapy? That depends on you and your needs. There are therapists willing to work with people of all incomes at many levels of cost. The Open Path Collective is a group where therapists can advertise at lower rates between $30-$70 per session.
Other therapists might take insurance, and the price they charge will be based on your explanation of benefits, or EOB. This is what an insurance company has agreed with the clinician that they are allowed to charge for the services on your behalf. See my post on insurance for more on that.
Some therapists have prices higher than $100 and might believe their services are worth that value based on their schedules. Clearly others think so too or they wouldn’t be in business. It all depends on what you need and what you can afford. There are options out there for everyone.
If the price is right and the relationship is solid, you have found your therapist. If not, that’s okay. Sometimes it takes time to find the right therapist for you. This connection and the value a therapist provides to you is important to look for, as a good therapist is someone you can return to at different points in your life. You might have the same therapist for a long time. You could also do a lot of work with them, terminate, then come back later for different issues. The door stays open where possible. It is okay to go back to the same therapist if you need to.
Open the tab to search for a therapist and reach out to one today. Starting is the hardest part. Here is your prompt.