Before starting your search for the right therapist, I would like for you to first ask yourself what you want out of therapy. Do you want a different perspective on life? Do you need guidance on a relationship? A friendship? Family issues? Are you dealing with depression? Anxiety? Transitional issues? Do you just want a listening ear? Have you experienced trauma and unsure how to cope?
No matter the reason, all are valid and welcomed! The only thing that a therapist cannot do is give you advice on how to live your life (aka tell you what to do). I’m sure you might be wondering, “well, why is that?” and the honest answer is that your therapist is not perfect. Meaning, if they are still figuring ‘life’ out themselves, they can’t possibly tell anyone else what to do! Along with that, everyone’s life is different- their preferences, desires, culture needs, ethnicity, religion, interests, etc. etc. that one person cannot possibly tell another person how to conduct their life!
What does a therapist do?
A therapist helps you make the decision that aligns with your own values (not theirs). Your therapist is also there to help you make decisions that are healthy and helpful for you and are not hurtful or destructive in any way.
Step by step guide:
- How to search for a therapist? Let’s start by typing in “therapist near me” in your search engine.
- PsychologyToday.com is also a great resource for finding a therapist! Here you can choose the specialty of the therapist, whether or not they are private pay, take insurance, etc.
- Something you may have not considered before is social media! A lot of therapists use hashtags with the city they reside in. This can look like #phillytherapist or #philadelphiatherapy. You might feel connected with the posts they create, and reach out to them through their linked website.
- Once you’ve narrowed down your search, read every therapist’s bio and see which one speaks the most to you. Do they align with your values? Can they assist you with what you’re looking for? Do they feel warm and inviting?
- Narrow your search down again to a few that you connected with and reach out to them. At this time, you can either call or email them and explain what you’re looking to work on in therapy.
- Once you’ve received some responses, ask if they offer a free phone consultation to further make sure you are a good fit.
- Interview your therapist. Ask them about their experience, if they’ve worked with someone like you before, how do they conduct therapy, what is the frequency and duration of therapy, and double check if their fee feels comfortable for you (I personally share my fee immediately so that there is no confusion).
- Check to see if your schedules align and you can see them on a consistent basis.
- Pick your favorite one.
- Begin!
As therapists, we know that therapy is not necessarily easy. What we also know is how transformative and eye opening it is. Are you ready to take this step?