How to find an effective therapist. 5 tips to help your therapist search.

Realizing that you want to explore therapy can be stressful enough. Now, you're tasked with trying to find someone that you are going to gel with. That can feel overwhelming! How do you narrow down the right counselor for a journey as unique and complex as yours?

This seemingly impossible task is possible. Finding the right Therapist starts with asking yourself, “What kind of therapist do I want to work with?”

Here are 5 simple tips that can help narrow your options and get you closer to finding the Therapist that can help you the most.

Be Honest About Where You Are In Your Journey

Your first step toward finding the right therapist is being honest about what you need help with. Here is a list of what you may be experiencing; as you’re reading through, make note of any that stand out to you. This is not a comprehensive list.

Anxiety, Depression, PTSD, Trauma, Abuse, Marital Issues, Family Issues, Anger, Grief and Loss, Eating Disorders, Bipolar Disorders.

If you’re not honest with yourself about what you need help with, it will slow progress and delay getting you the support you need. Remember, a therapist's job is NOT to judge you but to come alongside you and help you journey through life’s most pressing issues.

Research Each Therapist’s Field of Expertise

Therapists are trained to work with a wide variety of complex issues. But not all Therapist’s specialize in the same areas. Here’s an example: If you are struggling with substance addiction, then you might consider searching for a counselor who specializes in addiction recovery. Some counselors focus on helping people recover from alcoholism, while others may focus on childhood trauma.

The benefits of specialization mean the therapist can offer deeper insight into your struggles instead of a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach. For example, I specialize in working with married couples, families, men, and veterans.

When you find a therapist who has a working knowledge of your struggles, you’re one step closer to finding a therapist that will resonate well with you.

Understanding the Therapist’s Credentials

Therapy is more than just being a good listener (though that’s certainly important!). Typically, when you attend therapy, there is something going on in your life that is keeping you “stuck.” The goal is to partner with you to get you “unstuck.” This is accomplished by leveraging a mixture of experience and higher education.

Look for counselors who have received a degree or are pursuing a degree in their field of expertise.

This is important. A general rule of thumb is to look for therapists who are LICENSED through the state of Texas. We go through a very meticulous educational program, testing and approval process to be able to provide counseling services to you. Here is the Texas Health Behavioral Health Counsel website where you can look up anyone to verify their licensed credentials. https://bhec.texas.gov/verify-a-license/

As an example, I am currently working toward my master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy at Abilene Christian University. ACU is COMAFTE accredited. COMAFTE is the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education. Here is their website: https://www.coamfte.org/. COAMFTE is recognized by the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). COMAFTE is considered the GOLD standard for therapist accreditation. In order for me to be a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), I need to complete the master’s program I am currently in, test to show competency, and earn 3,000 supervised hours from a seasoned Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist.

My LMFT education, combined with my first-hand experience as a married family man and veteran, make me intimately familiar with the areas my clients struggle with today.

Using Insurance or Private Pay

It’s no secret, and I’m well aware of the barrier of cost when it comes to accessing therapy. According to a 2020 study, low-income couples are less likely than middle-class couples to receive therapy despite being at higher risk for marital issues.

It’s important to think about how costs will be covered for Therapy before committing. If you have insurance, look into their mental health policy for what they will or won’t cover. If you don’t have insurance and have to pay out-of-pocket, you still have options. After you’ve found a therapist you want to work with, call their office and ask about “a sliding scale or Pro Bono services” if finances are tight. Some counselors offer free counseling or sliding scale pay based on your income.

Putting it all together

As a Student Therapist, here’s what I would say to a client who is searching for a therapist.

I am a Student Marriage and Family Therapist intern supervised by Diana Bigham, LMFT-S. I specialize in working with Couples, Families, Men, and Veterans. As an intern, my rate is $40 a session. If you’re looking to effectively resolve conflicts, feel like you are heard, process complex emotions, and create sustainable change, then I can help equip you with the tools to tackle life’s biggest obstacles confidently, one “a-ha” moment at a time. Tell me more about what’s going on in your world right now. . .

Call 817-562-8800 to get started.