Finding the Right Therapist in Phoenix

You’ve Decided to Start Therapy, but now what?!

You thought that once you made the decision to start therapy then you’d be on your way to sitting across from your therapist ready to dig in and do the work. Well, you’re almost there! However, there’s one more big thing to consider…how to go about finding a therapist. And not just any therapist, but one that you actually want alongside you while you dig through the reasons why you keep finding yourself in unhealthy relationships, struggling with depression or anxiety or one that will help you build your self-esteem and confidence.

3 Steps to Finding the Right Therapist in Phoenix

How to find a therapist?

Did you know we (meaning us therapists, counselors, psychologists, etc) have directories where you can search for us?  In these directories you’ll be able to read therapists’ profiles and get information about them to help you start to narrow down which may be a good fit for you.  These directories also have filters allowing you to search for counselors that match specific criteria such as gender, insurance accepted, location, and approach to therapy.

Some of the most popular directories are psychologytoday.com, goodtherapy.com and therapyden.com. If you plan to use your insurance benefits, you can contact your insurance and they can provide you with a list as well.

And if you’re willing to, you can ask friends and family members if they’d recommend someone they’ve worked with. Rest assured mental health professionals are required to maintain confidentiality so they should not disclose information about your friend’s or relative’s treatment and vice versa.  

What’s the deal with the consultations?

Once you have at least 2-3 potential counselors, call or email them to schedule a consultation. Most mental health providers will offer a free 15-20 minute consultation over the phone. The point of these consults is for you to get a sense of their style, treatment approach and whether it feels as if this is someone that you could feel comfortable working with. During these calls you can also ask about fees, whether they accept insurance (if you plan to use it), how frequent you can expect to meet and what their approach may be in working with you. The counselor may ask what is bringing you to therapy and what you hope to get out of treatment. This information will help them determine whether you’re a good fit for them as well.

It is a bit of work to be interviewing multiple counselors, but it will increase the likelihood that you will find someone that will be a good fit for you. After the consultations are done, if there is a therapist that stands out to you, book the intake appointment!

What if I don’t really connect with my therapist?

So you attended your intake appointment and you’re kinda feeling like it was just “meh.” It wasn’t great, but it wasn’t what you were hoping to feel after your first session. That’s okay. It doesn’t mean you need to stop therapy or find another counselor just yet. Sometimes it takes a few sessions to build that comfort and rapport. The first couple of sessions are also likely to be very different than regular therapy sessions since the therapist is gathering information for the assessment and probably asking a bit of questions to help them conceptualize what may be going on and why.

Now if after a few sessions, you still don’t feel comfortable with this counselor or that they can provide the support you’re looking for, it’s time to consider trying a new therapist. Of course, you can also choose not to return after the first appointment. If you didn’t feel safe, heard, or validated, trust your instinct and try another therapist. You may learn that there’s a particular approach or style that works better for you and now have more clarity on what to look for in a therapist. 

So don’t give up even if it takes a few tries before meeting the therapist that just feels right. Therapy can be a very vulnerable, difficult, and rewarding experience and it’ll be more likely that you’ll achieve the growth and change you desire if you’re working with a therapist that is the right fit for you.

Hopefully these suggestions will be helpful in connecting you to the right therapist in Phoenix.  If you still have questions or want to know more about what it might be like to work with me, you can click here to connect with me or call (480) 463-4015 to schedule that free 15 minute consultation. Although it can take a little bit of legwork in the beginning of your journey to find the right counselor in Phoenix, it’ll all be worth it in the end!