How to find a therapist?

LCM is making me look for a new T. A licensed T. I don't even know where to look or what to do. My school does not give referrals.

If you click the find help button on the menu at the top of the PC forums it offers a therapist search option (or use this link) Find a Therapist

Another option might be asking your dr for referrals? (Not sure if they do that in the US or not)

If you are using insurance, start with their provider list. If not, check the link tigergirl gave to start.

Can LCM not help you to find one?

psychology today also has tons of listings. just plug in your zip code and then you can refine your search from there. it's also good to think about what kind of therapy you want i.e. psychodynamic, CBT, family systems, etc.

This is definitely a good idea. Even if you Google your city and the word "psychologist" or "therapist" it should bring up a lot of people for you. I'd definitely consider what approach you think you need first though, to help you narrow down the lot.

There are so many people. How do I know who to call? Like I know I need a woman and I need someone good with trauma. LCM hates social workers. I don't know what else I'd need like style or anything...? And then, if I called them, what do I say?

Hates social workers? .....

I wouldn't count them out. You don't need a PhD to be a good therapist.

growli, knowing you want a woman and a trauma T is a good start.

here's an article from PC: questions to ask your T

here are some things to think about when meeting with the T the first time to see if they are a good fit: key questions to ask when choosing a T

really basic info on therapy orientations: understanding different approaches to psychotherapy here's a very quick cheat sheet: therapy styles (scroll down)

it's good to learn a little about therapy rather than just accepting anyone as your T. i say this because i didn't do it when i was younger and had some duds for Ts. i'd treat it like when you have to go to a doctor who is a specialist. check them out thoroughly, find out a lot about them, and make sure you are getting your money's worth. the best T i had was a social worker so it's a really individual thing. more advanced degrees don't mean the T will necessarily be the best fit for you. referrals from people you know are a good way to start. if you have any friends in therapy you could ask them if their T could recommend another T. the most important thing is finding a T you have a good fit with, someone you feel comfortable with to really talk openly with and have a good feeling about how they will approach dealing with your issues.

Your city has fantastic hospitals that have lots of psychologists who are part of those systems.

Do you have a medical insurance card? You could call the number on the back or go to your ins website and see who is covered. Most T's have a profile that states their specialties and where they are located. A google search may help you find more info on drs who look promising. You can make a list of those that sound better than others. You can do all this before you even make a call.

Yeah. The problem is that I don't have mass insurance. A lot of places are covered by it, but I can't tell with a web search.

I googled all of it and narrowed my search and I am still scared. I think I need a referral in order to feel comfortable and not just like I'm calling up some random person. I emailed my DBT t. Maybe he'll have some names.

I semi relapsed yesterday. I didn't actually cut. I got very close and did something different but similar I guess. I told LCM and she said she feels uncomfortable with my behavior and is upset about it. She said I need a real professional to see me every week ASAP to make her feel more comfortable.

I meant look at who your own insurance co covers (they should have a nationwide network, not just your home state?)

Looking is a very good idea. You deserve credit for not only looking but avoiding cutting too.

Has your school set you up at least with a new school T?? I am shocked that they haven't done this yet

No they won't until next year. The counseling center is closed. But I don't want another school T. Why would I want a new first year intern?

I can understand not wanting a newbie T, but you never know what will help, even if it is just a little. I wouldn't recommend getting too attached to a school T, but having another source of support may help.

I'm the kind of person who does tend to put all my eggs in one basket/trust on;y one or 2 people. It has helped me personally to branch out a little. Main T is more important to me than anyone but taking the pressure off our relationship by including other supports does end up keeping our relationship strong.

I would hate to see you have a crisis with LCM because she may feel overwhelmed at some point because she is your main support. I think she has the best intentions but I really honestly think you can hold onto her longer if you try to include other supports in your life. Hope this makes sense.

Hi Growli, here are some suggestions for how to look for a new T.

If you are close with your primary care physician or trust them you can ask them for a referral.

Some Insurance companies partner with work places to provide therapy. If they do on the back of the Insurance care there will be a number for and Employee assistance program (EAP). You can call them. They should have someone you can talk to. They might have you come in and talk to a therapist who works for them. That T will learn a little about you, and then make a referral.

You can also, as others have suggested, look for a T online. People already suggested Psychology Today, you can also use GoodTherapy.org - Therapy, Find a Therapist or Marriage Counselor, they have a lot listings

If you are a member of any communities, or minority groups you can sometimes find therapy listings on websites for community resource centers. I know that where I live the LGBT resource center has a list of therapists on their website.

Or another way that you might get a referral is though a friend. If you know a friend who is in therapy, and you feel comfortable, you can ask the friend for the name of their T. You can call that T and explain your situation. There's a pretty good chance they should have a referral for you. I did this once for a friend. I'm pretty sure it worked out.

Some other stuff about finding a T:

I usually like to write down a list of questions before I call, that way I'm prepared. I'm always very sure to ask about any topics that caused problems in therapy before. That way I'm sure that that issue won't happen again. I also try to find out if the therapist and I share similar values (since this is important to me). So I ask questions about things like sexuality.

since you don't know what style you want, you might look for somebody eclectic. eclectic therapists usually use a variety of styles, and aren't too married to any one way of doing things. Or if you find Ts on psychology today it will usually say what styles they use in the side bar. You can look them up on Wikipedia if you want. But I wouldn't worry about it too much. Research tends to show that no one style is best. What matters most in therapy is the relationship.

It may take sometime to find someone who works. Its ok to try a T on for a few appointments. If your gut says it isn't right just try someone else. Ts understand this. So don't worry about offending them if it doesn't work.

Also if you look in my posting history you should be able to find a thread I stared a few weeks ago about good vs. bad therapy. It has some links in it about how to find a T.

*Panics at the mention of losing LCM*

I know I need another T. I know I'm stressing LCM out. I'm just having a hard time trusting myself to find anyone else.

I emailed my DBT T. Hopefully he knows someone.

Does it concern you that your life coach hates a group of people that strive to improve the quality of life and society as a whole?

Why does LCM hate social workers? A good many therapists that will be available to you are LICSWs. Like anything else, some are great and some are not. But for her to tell you she "hates social workers" is not going t help you at all as it really narrows your options down. Especially if you don't have referrals.

No not really. We all are a little off


She has had bad experiences working with them as a case manager. I guess she feels like they aren't dedicated. I know this is her own personal bias that is based off of personal experience that doesn't represent all social workers.

Social work is a very broad field professionally - it is a degree there offers a lot of different career options and they vary very widely. Yes, case workers are social workers, but all social workers are not case workers. Therapists and case workers are not the same thing, so don't let LCM's bias affect your choices. She doesn't understand the entire scope of social work obviously.

Mass Health doesn't have the best options either. So if you have private coverage you will be much better off. I can tell you that many hospitals here take most major insurances.

My T is a LCSW and is extremely good at her job. Don't count them all out.

sorry-I was afraid of mentioning it.However,the more you do to get other supports in place, the stronger your lcm relationship will be. Sounds like you are starting to take steps in the right direction.

growli, i think you're smart to look for a regular T. interns are pretty hit or miss in my experience. here's hoping DBT has a good rec for you.