Deciding to pursue mental health care is one thing. Knowing where to find a therapist or psychiatrist is another matter entirely. You might feel overwhelmed or not know where to start.
The good news is, there are plenty of places for you to find care that meets your needs – whether you’re mainly concerned about finding online therapy or about keeping treatment affordable. Here are some of the best places to start your search.
Google
A quick Google search is a great way to get started on your search. Just searching something like “therapists near me” will get you on the right track. But it’s also a good idea to try Googling your therapist’s name no matter where you found them. Some therapists have reviews, which can help you see what kind of experiences other patients have had with them. But just because a therapist might not have any reviews doesn’t mean they’re inexperienced or bad at their job.
The biggest downside to finding a therapist via Google search is that it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by options.
Referrals from Family and Friends
If you’re comfortable asking around your social circle, this is one of the easiest ways to get an honest opinion about a recommendation from someone who’s been in your shoes. This works especially well if your social circles are already quite open about mental health and won’t mind you asking them about their experiences.
Your Insurance's In-Network List
If you have health insurance, check your insurer’s network of providers. This is a good place to start if you’re nervous about covering costs and want to make sure you find a therapist that will take your insurance.
Doctor Referrals
Asking your doctor is an especially effective option if you have a good relationship with your primary care doctor and they understand your concerns, history, needs, and personality. It might be more hit-or-miss if you aren’t close with your doctor or they don’t have a strong idea of what your mental health concerns are.
SohoMD
Every provider on SohoMD offers teletherapy, so if you know you want to access remote services, this is an excellent resource. You can sort by your state (for certification purposes), the type of treatment you want, and what insurance you have (so you don’t have to worry about confirming whether each individual therapist takes your insurance). The site also has in-depth bios to help you learn about each therapist. And working within the network of providers, you’ll have access to referrals to other mental health professionals if your therapist needs to refer you to other services down the road.
ZocDoc
ZocDoc is a popular site for finding health care providers, which includes therapists and psychiatrists. This is a good place to look for ratings and reviews. It also has scheduling built into the site.
Psychology Today
Their directory lets you search based on location to find providers in every state and major metro area in the U.S. You can narrow your search to therapists, teletherapy providers, psychiatrists, treatment centers, and support groups. Listings include provider bios, contact information, and pricing.
If you feel overwhelmed by options, think of it this way: there are so many therapists out there that it might take some searching and trial and error, but with so many options, you can absolutely find a therapist that works for you. Don’t get discouraged!
