Here at Meg’s Legacy, we think it’s important to be a voice to destigmatize mental health issues and raise awareness. It’s important to find a path to strengthen the mind when dealing with challenges in today’s society.
Always featuring an educational article in our newsletters, today we address one of the most common questions heard: “How do I find a therapist?”
Dr. Beth Sherman, Psy.D., leads our advisory team and serves on the Grant Committee
Dr. Beth Sherman, Psy.D., shares her thoughts:
Finding a licensed professional can be daunting; many people are unsure where to look. Unfortunately, stigma still surrounds the topic of mental health. This may add a layer of difficulty or fear, but you have a lot of options to search for assistance, so just get started.
- The ideal way to find a therapist is to ask around – you would be surprised at how many people you know who are already in therapy. Over half of my referrals come to me through current/former clients. Getting a personal recommendation greatly increases a good fit because you will have more comfort and know the therapist’s skills were personally suggested.
- If you have insurance, check the website. Most insurance companies allow you to search by zip code, and some will even contact providers on your behalf to request availability.
- Search sites like Psychology Today which have providers that pay to be listed. The advantage of this is having numerous filters like location, credentials, gender of therapist, issue(s) you would like to work on, and theoretical orientations. There is also a brief blurb written by each provider to tell a bit about themselves, so you see what they are like and their specialty.
- All primary care providers have a list of mental health professionals that they regularly refer to. You should not need a primary care appointment; messaging in your patient portal to request this information is sufficient.
- Area hospitals with an inpatient mental health program will typically have an outpatient program as well. You do not need to be referred by your doctor (unless you are in an HMO); you can simply call and ask for an appointment.
- Google search “therapists near me.” Noting the issues that you would like help with (like depression, anxiety, trauma, etc.) will help narrow the search. You will see sponsored recommendations as well.
If you have no insurance or have Medicaid, consider the following:
- Counties and townships have a mental health center – contact them and ask for services and they will connect you. Session fees are on a sliding scale or no-cost.
- Some graduate schools will have programs where their students-in-training offer therapy at little to no cost. The student counselor will have one or more supervisors guiding them in their work with you from start to finish.
- Centers that receive federal funding often provide mental health care for free or at a greatly reduced rate. Use your zip code to find locations at https://findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov/ or https://www.mhai.org/get-help. You may find virtual groups here as well.
Always remember, there are hotlines with people to talk to you, including the 988 talk or text line. If you or someone you care about is in imminent danger, either call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
Additionally, the Resource page on our website, MegsLegacyofHope.org, offers many ideas for more specific help.
