Last updated on October 25th, 2022.
Looking for a therapist near you? Today, we will share the main 5 things to consider when looking for a therapist.
When you need a therapist, you want to make sure you have a quality therapist that will help you. When you search for a “therapist near me,” you are going to find a lot of options. However, they will not all be the same, so you need to know what to look for in a good therapist.
It is easy to figure out if a therapist is a good one once you understand the things you need to consider when finding one. Moreover, there are online options you can choose from, too. Read on to discover five things you need to consider when looking for a “therapist near me.”
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What Does a Therapist Do?
Considering finding a therapist is a giant step in your well-being. However, if you have never gone to a therapist before, you may wonder what they do. The short answer is that they will help your mental well-being. Yet, specifically, how do they achieve this?
Therapists are licensed professionals in the field of mental health. Their main goals include the following:
- Improve their patient’s cognitive skills
- Improve their patient’s emotional skills
- Relieve their patient’s symptoms of mental illness
- Help their patients cope with everyday issues
Therapists work one-on-one with you to help you improve your life. For many, this means overcoming anxiety, depression, and stress. It is easy to not know how to cope with these ailments, but therapists are trained to help.
A therapist will listen and talk with their patients. By doing this, they will find their strengths and weaknesses and can help steer the patient toward their strengths. Therapists will allow their patients to discover coping mechanisms for their issues while also teaching them how to accept themselves.
Some techniques that therapists use include: listening, analyzing each situation, offering strategies, and more. The main goal is to help people be mentally healthy so they can enjoy life.
Pros and Cons of Using Online Therapy
When you search for a therapist near you, you will often find many that are in-person. This is the traditional method of visiting a therapist. They will have an office, either on its own or as part of a center, and you will go and talk with them.
However, you will also find in your search many options for online therapy. If you have never used a therapist, you may begin considering using an online therapist. However, you may also wonder if it is the right decision to make for your situation.
There are pros and cons of using online therapy, which is important to consider. If you want to make the best choice, you will need to take a moment to see how online therapy can fit into your life.
| Pros of Online Therapy: | Cons of Online Therapy: |
|---|---|
| Convenient. Online therapy can be done at any time from any place as long as you have an internet connection. | Health insurance. Online therapy is often not covered by health insurance. It is important to inquire first if this will be an issue for you. |
| Accessible. If you are injured, but still need a therapist, online therapy is very accessible because you do not need to leave home. | Technical issues. Since you are reliant on the internet and certain apps, it is possible to have technical issues that can interrupt your session. |
| More options. Since online therapists can see anyone from anywhere, you will have more options to choose from. | Confidentiality issues. Everything said in a session is confidential. However, with online therapy, you do have a slight risk of a hack or breach of the technology. |
| No social pressure. There is a stigma around mental health, which may prevent you from going into public to see a therapist. | No intimacy. Therapists often do their best work in person because they are reading body language and getting a feel for the situation. This is removed online. |
| Flexibility. When you go in person, you are limited to the office hours of the therapist. Online therapy is much more flexible, allowing you most times of the day. | Cannot Be Used for Everything. Some mental health issues are serious and require in-person counseling because online therapy is not suited for it. |
Before you decide to use online therapy, it is best to review the pros and cons. This will ensure that you are making the best decision. You do not want to regret your decision later because you did not take the time to see if it was right for you.
5 Things to Consider When Looking for a Therapist Near Me
Now that you know what a therapist does and what the pros and cons are of online therapy, it is important to understand what to consider when looking for a therapist. Remember, not all therapists will be the same. Moreover, a therapist that works for one person does not necessarily mean he or she will work for someone else.
There are many things to consider when looking for a therapist near you. Five of the most important are:
- The location of the therapist
- The fees of the therapist
- The credentials of the therapist
- The age of the therapist
- The gender of the therapist
These considerations are important. They will help you discover whether the therapist will be a good fit for you. You need to know your goals and what you are comfortable with.
If you consider these five things, you will make the right decision when choosing your therapist. You will know whether you want an in-person therapist or an online therapist. You will have a better idea of your plan and your strategy to get better.
Looking at each consideration closely will yield a full picture of what you need to do to find a therapist near you.
1. The Location of the Therapist
The location of the therapist is a very important thing to consider. You want to be sure you can easily travel to your appointments. Moreover, if you are using insurance, you want to be sure that the therapist is within your area of coverage.
If a therapist is located too far away, it will cause you headaches. Remember, a therapist is supposed to lessen your stress, not add to it.
So, you will want to find a therapist that is closer rather than farther away. When you search for “a therapist near me,” the search results will not always give you just therapists in your immediate area.
It is advantageous to get as specific as you can with your search.
2. The Fees of the Therapist
Another consideration to make is the fees of the therapist. Not all therapists will charge the same price. Moreover, the price will differ between online therapists and in-person therapists.
It is important to find a therapist that fits into your budget. As with travel considerations, you do not want to add stress to your life because of a therapist.
So, knowing your budget beforehand is very important. This way, you can choose a therapist that will fall within your means.
Regardless, you should also look at whether your insurance will cover the therapists you are searching for. Some therapists will not be covered by your insurance, which can have a big impact on what you end up spending.
3. The Credentials of the Therapist
You should consider the credentials of the therapist. Therapists can have a variety of different designations that come after their name. You have probably seen some of them before. Designations such as LMHC (Licensed Mental Health Counselor) or LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor).
Most importantly, however, you should look and make sure they are licensed, mental health professionals. There are a few reasons you want to make sure they are certified.
- Licensed therapists have a code of ethics
- Licensed therapists are qualified
- Licensed therapists must maintain their qualifications
When a therapist is licensed it means they have to abide by certain laws and regulations, which all protect you. For example, their code of ethics means that, by law, they cannot divulge anything you tell them.
Moreover, if they are licensed, then they must continue with their education and maintain their qualifications. So, if you see a therapist that is licensed it means they are up-to-date with the best practices of mental healthcare.
4. The Age of the Therapist
While it may not seem important at first, the age of the therapist is something to consider. The reason?
You need to connect with the therapist you choose. So, it is important to know which facts can affect the trust and comfort of your relationship with them.
Are you more comfortable with a therapist that will be younger than you? Will you be more comfortable with an older therapist? Or, is a therapist that is about the same age as you the best option?
It depends on how you feel and how you will relate to them. Perhaps age will not matter for you. It is good to think about it first, though, so you know for sure if it will be a factor.
5. The Gender of the Therapist
Similar to the age consideration, knowing which gender you would be most comfortable with is important.
If you would be more comfortable with a female therapist, then you should filter your search results to reflect this. The same is true if you will be more comfortable with a male therapist.
Again, the gender of the therapist may not be an important factor for you.
However, you want to make sure you are comfortable because the only way a therapist can help you is if you trust them and are comfortable with them.
A Great Alternative to In-Person Therapy
If going to an in-person therapist does not seem like the path you want to take, there are great alternatives you can choose.
One great alternative to in-person therapy is online-therapy.com, an all-encompassing approach to online therapy.
At online-therapy.com, you have several tools available to you that set them apart from other online therapy practices you may come across. Consider some of these tools:
- Instant messaging. You can message your therapist anytime you need to. Online-therapy.com offers a texting feature where you can talk to them anytime you need them.
- Video chats each week. Each week, you have a video chat with your therapist online, which is usually the extent of most other online therapy practices.
- Journaling feature. They offer a journaling tool where you can journal your progress, your activities, and your feelings, which is very helpful when you meet with your therapist.
- Your therapist provides worksheets for you to fill out, which are great tools to help your well-being.
- They also provide documents that layout a lot of information that will help you overcome your mental health difficulties.
If you want more than just a therapist, online-therapy.com offers you what they call a “complete toolbox” for your healing.
Conclusion
Getting a therapist is a big step to take in building resilience, but it is an important one that should be considered fully. You want to make sure you get the therapist that will help you the most.
Online therapy, moreover, provides a great alternative to going in-person to a therapist. Most importantly, finding a therapist, whether in-person or online, will benefit your well-being and make you a happier person.
