How to find the right therapist for me?

How to find the right therapist for me?

First, I would like to start off by saying it is OK to therapist shop when you are seeking therapy.

I want you to know that it is ok to contact multiple mental health providers, to ask many questions and to really assess which provider would be the best fit for your mental health care.

This is an important decision.

I think the best way to find out if a therapist is the right fit for you is to have a brief consultation call before signing up for services. This is a great opportunity for you, as the client to ask questions to better understand how the therapist works, and to see if you feel comfortable talking with this person.

Often when we encounter life challenges, struggle with executive functioning or implementing coping strategies, or just feeling stuck it can be very difficult to reach out for help.

If you are struggling, I applaud you for even reading this page.

This article will be a great cheat sheet to help you gather the strength and focus needed to find effective counseling services.

Some questions to ask during a consultation call:

1.What is your specialization? This is a great way to find out if the therapist is knowledgeable and passionate about the topic, experiences, and mental health condition you bring to session.

2. What is your therapeutic approach? Asking this question will give you a great idea about how the licensed therapist will address your concerns and goals as well as give you some information about the techniques and modalities that they will use in within their counseling services.

3. How do you adapt your approach to fit each individual client? I believe it is important for a therapist to be able to adapt their approach and methods to best align with the client's needs and goals. This question will offer you information on the therapist's ability to be flexible in creating a treatment plan that best suits your needs.

4. What is your availability and scheduling? Make sure your therapist’s schedule aligns with your schedule so that therapy is at a time when you feel you can focus and have a private space to do the personal work.

5. How often are sessions typically scheduled? This is a great question to find out if your licensed therapist suggests weekly, biweekly or differently scheduled sessions .Some therapists suggest 50-minute sessions while others offer 60-minute and even have the opportunity of 90-minute sessions. Ask this question to find a therapist that practices in a way that fits best into your schedule.

6. Remember it is OK to ask about fees, process, schedule, approach and cancellation policy etc. It is important to have a good understanding of what to expect and it's important for a therapist to have transparency about their process and expectations as well.

Now, let’s talk about insurance and what to ask if the mental health provider you connect with does not accept your policy.

What to ask your insurance about Out-of-Network Providers:

1.     What is the Out-of-Network Reimbursement rate? Ask what percentage of out of network costs your insurance plan will cover. This is going to help you get an estimate of how much you might need to pay out of pocket after reimbursement. Most out-of-network mental health providers will require that you pay the session fee up front and then return to your insurance to ask for reimbursement.

2.     Is there a maximum reimbursement amount? Ask your insurance if there is a limit to how much they will reimburse for out of network services.

3.     Do I need to meet my deductible first? Ask if you need to meet your deductible before the insurance will start to reimburse for out-of-network services.

4.     What documentation do I need to submit? Ask your insurance provider about any specific documents required to submit a claim for out-of-network reimbursement. This might include a super bill or any other relevant paperwork.

I suggest taking detailed notes during these conversations with your insurance provider as well as keep a folder of all relevant documents related to your out-of-network claims and reimbursements this will help organize and help you navigate the process more effectively.

Please note that when working with insurance there is less ability to keep client information private and most insurance providers will require a diagnostic code when reimbursing for out-of-network services.

I hope that this has been helpful in guiding you toward finding a therapist that feels like the right fit (When you know, you know!). The therapeutic relationship is unique, and a valuable resource once established. I understand that it can feel like an overwhelming task to begin the search but please allow this article to guide you towards building a strong therapeutic bond with your clinician. Please feel free to reach out to me for a free consultation call or with any questions on how to find the best fit for your therapeutic needs.

Lauren Perez, LMFT