How do I find a good therapist in 2023 when everyone is booked?
Before I became a therapist, I was a client in need of a therapist. Even when I was a graduate student studying Mental Health Counseling and living in Boston, a city full of practicing therapists, finding a therapist was not easy! And now that I am on the other side of the curtain, one of my favorite ways to help friends, family, and people I know (and therefore cannot be their therapist) is helping them get started in the search for a therapist.
First and foremost, one of the issues in the field is that clients who are close to one another may not want to share therapists. For example, if your older sister or your best friend has an amazing therapist that she raves about, chances are, you may not want to have the same one. Having your own therapist means that you have your own confidant and teammate, who is completely impartial and organically untied to anyone in your network, no matter how much you love your older sister and best friend. Therefore, while I do recommend going the “Word of Mouth” referral route to find a great therapist, I only recommend it if the person sharing their therapist with you is an acquaintance or weak tie, or a person who likely does not mention you in their own therapy sessions.
Here are some ways to search for therapists on the internet:
Psychology Today - All you need to do is enter a zip code or city and state, and Psychology Today has a plethora of options. The hardest part is finding the therapist that fits your needs because there are so many to choose from. Luckily, you can filter your options such as those who take your insurance or treat your specific needs. If you’re not finding a therapist near your home location, try searching for a virtual therapist or even for a therapist located near your work or school, since you likely spend more time there during most therapist’s hours of operations. Check out my profile on Psychology Today to learn more about what therapists offer on their profile.
Open Path Psychotherapy Collective - Open Path Psychotherapy Collective is a nonprofit nationwide network of mental health professionals dedicated to providing in-office and online mental health care—at a steeply reduced rate—to clients in need. If you are looking for a therapist out of network and looking to pay between $30-$70 per session, Open Path is a great directory. I myself am listed on Open Path as a way to give back to my community and take on clients who can only afford sliding scale rates. This is also a great option for couples seeking Couples Counseling, due to the affordability of the sessions.
Additional Online Directories:
Non-Internet Therapist Search Options:
If you have health insurance, check-out your insurance provider’s website as they likely list the providers that are available in your network.
Reach out to colleges and universities that offer master’s level or doctorate level counseling programs. It is highly likely that many wonderful therapists are employed by these programs!
Ask everyone and anyone in your local community how they found their therapist, if they have one. If their therapist happens to work at a group practice, another therapist in the practice may be accepting referrals and new clients at this time.
This list is obviously not exhaustive — there are many different ways one can find a therapist. In fact, now-a-days people are even being connected to therapists through social media! Try out some of these search methods to get started on your therapy journey.
Emily Hope is a therapist who specializes in working with mental health in young adults — specifically in college students, graduate students, and young professionals undergoing stress, depression, and anxiety. With over ten years of working with students of all ages, from international high school students to college students and to adult English learners, Emily understands the unique challenges that high achieving individuals face when it comes to balancing their mental health and prioritizing their goals. From balancing the demands of her own educational and career journey to navigating the changes and transitions that come with each stage of adulthood, she provides a compassionate and non-judgmental space for early adults, young professionals, and college students to explore their feelings and experiences while learning skills and strategies to support their mental health and overall wellbeing.
Emily’s approach is rooted in evidence-based therapies, including cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), mindfulness-based therapy, and motivational interview (MI) while using a trauma-informed feminist lens. Emily is dedicated to empowering individuals better understand their mental health, learn to cope with the ups and downs, and understand their sense of purpose.
