How to find a therapist is a quick guide outlining several steps that you can take. We recognize that it can be hard to find a therapist that is currently accepting new clients, takes your insurance, has hours that fit your schedule, and can treat your condition. Finding a therapist should not be your main concern. Your health is of the utmost priority. We have worked to simplify and breakdown some of the strategies and tools available to find help. If you have any specific questions or know of additional tools please feel free to comment or reach out to us.
How Do I Get Help?
By the time you start looking for a therapist you are desperate. Just like you don’t go looking for a surgeon until you need one, you’ve likely never explored the issue. In the midst of juggling symptoms and life you have to find a therapist. Plus let’s be honest you’re not entirely sure it will even do you any good. But, like we said you are in a tough spot and you need help. The only problem now is, who do you call?
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A study conducted in 2018, America’s Mental Health, determined that the mental health issues in this country are primarily due to insufficient access to care. This will come as no surprise to those of you who have already begun the search to find a provider.
Life is hard enough. Today we are going to break this down into several easy to follow steps. One of these options should help you to find a therapist.
Tips and Tricks
1) Have you talked to your doctor?
Often doctors whether it be your primary care provider, or a specialist are connected with mental health providers. Ask them to provide you with a list of referrals. If the referrals don’t work call them back and let them know. This will help them to update their list and hopefully get back to you with some new names.
2) School or Work
Students in college have access to college counseling centers. Often those counseling centers provide brief therapy, but they typically have a list of community referrals. Depending on where you work there may be an EAP (employee assistance program) often employers contract with mental health providers. With EAPs the first few sessions are often cover by the employer.
3) Professional Organizations
Mental health providers signup to be members of professional list serves. One of the most common examples is Psychology Today. *Here is a hint sometimes the profiles at the top are the most looked at and ones that have been up longer. If you are having trouble getting an appointment trying starting your search at the opposite end.
Here are a few other professional list serves that you can try:
The Greater Washington Society of Clinical Social Work https://www.gwscsw.org/Disclaimer/
The American Psychological Association https://locator.apa.org/
Anxiety and Depression Association of America https://members.adaa.org/page/FATMain
4) Contact your Insurance Company
Your insurance company should have a list of providers in network that offer services in your area. These may or may not workout, but it is one more avenue to explore.
5) Call a Mental Health Provider in your Area
Social work ethics dictate that anyone that seeks care should be given appropriate assistance. Will they make the call and setup the appointment for you…NO. However, you should be able to get a name of someone else who might be taking patients.
The truth is that finding help can be challenging. It shouldn’t be hard but that is the unfortunate truth. Be persistent and keep working your contacts. If your primary care provider does not know of anyone taking patients ask another doctor, pharmacist, or healthcare provider you interact with. If you live in the Baltimore area feel free to reach out to Woodruff Counseling LLC to schedule an appointment or talk more on how to find a therapist.
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Vicky Woodruff is a licensed social worker in Maryland. Woodruff Counseling has offices in Towson and Baltimore. Vicky Woodruff specialized in anxiety and mood disorders as well as life transitions. If you are interested in starting therapy give us a call.
References:
Thank you for pointing out that it’s a good idea to talk to your insurance company to find a therapist that is in your network. My sister has been telling me that she wants to hire a therapist to help with some things she’s been struggling with. I’ll be sure to share this with her so she knows where she can start looking for potential options.
Sadly, the study mentioned reminds us of the stark reality of limited access to mental health care in our country. However, the tips and tricks provided in this blog post offer a glimmer of hope, showing that there are various avenues to explore, from consulting your doctor or workplace resources to utilizing professional organizations and insurance company referrals. Remember, perseverance is key, and reaching out to Woodruff Counseling LLC might be a worthwhile option for those in the Baltimore area.