3 Tips for Choosing the Right Therapist

How to Find the Right Therapist for You

I remember the first time I considered seeking counseling services I did what I imagine most people do – open Google, type “therapist near me”, press enter. I was flooded with results. Overwhelmed by the amount of options presented to me, I closed my laptop and vowed to search another day. Hellooo, procrastination manifested by my inner anxieties.

When I did attempt to find a therapist again, I thought my best course of action was to choose from the top 3 results that the search engine regurgitated. Surely, I would be choosing a “top notch” therapist. A real expert, right? No mistakes to be made here! I scheduled my first appointment with ease. But I quickly found myself unsettled in sessions, not motivated to show up to the next one, and wondering ‘what is the point?’ I had started to believe that therapy wouldn’t work for me.

Truth be told, my therapist was great. They were experienced, warm, and genuine. They just weren’t for me. We didn’t vibe, and I never really felt like they truly got me. Instead of giving up on therapy altogether, I switched to another therapist, and then another. Until I found the right one. When I did, I felt comfortable and inspired to work on the issues that mattered to me most. I was advocating for myself and my healthcare needs by executing my power to choose, and you can do that too. I’ve compiled a few suggestions to help you in your search for the right therapist below.

Three Tips for Choosing the Right Therapist

1. Write down a list of your current concerns or mental health needs. Are you struggling with speaking up for yourself at work? Have you just experienced a major loss? These will be reference points to use when you search for therapists by expertise or focus.

2. Consider your prior experiences in counseling. What did you like? What did you not like? Maybe there was a modality you found helpful in the past such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Mindfulness, Trauma Focused Therapy, etc. Or maybe you just read or heard about an interesting approach – ask if the therapist incorporates that in their practice.

3. Consider your personal preferences. No matter how skilled a therapist is at what they do, they are still a human being you will hold a very intimate relationship with, and there will be some factors they cannot change to account for your personal levels of comfort and safety. Personal preferences to consider include:

   • Gender of the therapist

   • Race/Ethnicity of the therapist

   • Languages spoken by the therapist

   • Spiritual affiliation of the therapist (if seeking therapy with a faith-based component)

   • Age of the therapist

Start the Search

Once you’ve reflected on these three tips, you can start your search for the right therapist better prepared! One of my favorite online directories to find a therapist is Psychology Today. You can search by insurance (or none), location, expertise, and much more to narrow a list of prospective counselors.

When you’re ready to make a call, know that you are not obligated to make an appointment and there is no “contract” to therapy. Ask the therapist if they offer brief consultations to see if they would be a right fit for you and you for them. Ask these questions here! Therapists must also work within their scope, and your need for grief therapy may not be in their wheelhouse. Fret not, they’ll likely provide a referral.

Remember, you and your counselor share an intimate, professional relationship. If something comes up in therapy that doesn’t feel right, listen to yourself, and communicate your needs. More than likely, you and your therapist will find the solution. If the relationship doesn’t feel like it’s working despite advocating for yourself, consider restarting your search for the right therapist. You have the power to choose!

Avant Counseling offers free, 15-minute consultations to discuss your needs in therapy. Click the contact button below if you’d like to see if we’re the right fit for you.