How to Find a Therapist

Searching for a therapist is like searching for your significant other. You want to find someone that is compatible to you. You have to shop around until you find that one person that you can connect with.

Prepare Your Mind

When I was looking for my therapist, I remember finding it quite difficult. Considering the society we live in today and our societal norms, there is a false stigma out there that you have to be crazy in order to have a therapist. During my hunt for a therapist, it felt as if my way of thinking was completely different from everyone else. I thought no one would be able to understand my desire to seek out help, and that lead me to think that no one will be able to understand me.

When you get over that thinking, you may start to thinking talking to someone you have never met before about your life can be very awkward. But you have to trust this person with your deepest darkest part of yourself and trusting them to understand you and not judge you. I had no clue where to even start when I was looking for a therapist, but I was finally able to figure it out. Now, I have one of the best therapists out there and I am elated to share with you the steps that helped me.

Ask Around

It will surprise you how many of your family members or friends are actually in therapy. It isn’t something to be embarrassed about; everyone needs a judgement-free zone, and that’s what a therapist provides. When you figure out which of your family members or friends are in therapy, ask questions. Ask them what they like about the therapist. Ask them about the therapist’s availability and accessibility because that’s very important

As a beginner in therapy, you may want to seek out someone you can see as often as you want, not someone that has a long waiting list. Seeking out a therapist with limited availability may inadvertently cause you to give up on therapy while simply waiting for an appointment. That being said, you don’t want to settle just because you want someone that is available and accessible. You still want to get the very best. Ask your friend if their therapist knows someone they would recommend to you. (That is how I got my therapist.) If no one in your family has a therapist or you even encounter friends or family member who frown or laugh at the idea, do not let that derail you. This is a personal journey for you as you are a unique individual with unique abilities and needs.

Search Online

Use your discretion to determine what information you gathered in the research phase is There’s already an amazing database for you when it comes to helping in your search of a therapist. Psychology Today’s Therapy Directory is a great database to find any therapist in any city. As long as the therapist registers with the directory, you will be able to find them. Due to Psychology Today’s Therapy Directory being a great resource, a majority of therapists have a subscription, so you should have no problem finding the right fit for you. When you search online make sure you pay attention what type of therapy they specialize in. I love therapists that talk about their work and how they can help you instead of all their degrees; I just feel as if you should let your work speak for itself.

Find a Picture

I know this sounds crazy, but you can tell a lot from the picture of the therapist. You can determine if you and the therapist will be a great fit by looking at a picture of them. If you are a fun-loving person that is into hobbies and things of that sort, then a therapist with a picture of themselves doing something similar to what you like would be more of your speed. And if you are a very serious person, then maybe a therapist with a very professional headshot would be a great match. Like they always say, “a picture is worth a thousand words.”

There are so many resources available to you when looking for a therapist, it just boils down to making the decision to actually put in an effort. Don’t think about what people will say or the fact that you may not think therapy is for you. Just do it! Everyone needs a listening ear and you don’t necessarily have to have a mental illness in order to seek help from a professional.

Naomi is passionate about women’s health, empowerment, and development. She can be reached at naomi.ewansiha@gmail.com.