What to Look For in a New Therapist

Finding a new therapist can be exhausting and confusing. In a sea of providers, how are you supposed to know who’s the right fit for you?

In this blog post, we’re going to go in-depth in all of the things you might want to look for as you start your journey in looking for a new psychotherapist. 

Take Stock of What You Need

Take a few minutes to sit and really think about what you’re looking for in your next mental health journey. Do you need someone who can listen and validate your feelings? Do you need someone who might challenge you to break some old patterns? Do you need someone to be a blank slate for you to explore your mental health, or maybe you want someone who is more forthcoming about their opinions? 

Next, you might want to think about identity. Especially in the case of marginalized individuals, many people have preferences for lived experiences in their providers to offer a baseline sense of relatability. If you are LGBTQ, you might want an LGBTQ therapist. If you’re BIPOC or an immigrant, you might want someone who comes from your background or something similar. 

Last, explore if there is a particular modality of therapy you’re looking for. In many cases, folks that are dealing with specific issues might seek out specialized treatment in those areas – like EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) for trauma, DBT (Dialectical Behavioral Therapy) for building coping skills, or a HAES (Health at Every Size) approach. 

It’s okay if you’re unsure, but at least giving these things some level of thought will set you up for more success down the line. 

Understand the Logistics

Every practice is different in how it operates, including rates, session lengths, policies, and whether it accepts insurance. Especially in the world of insurance and financing, all of the complicated information can quickly become overwhelming. 

First, regardless of whether you have insurance or not, figure out your price range. A weekly (or monthly) maximum spending price range is a good guiding light to have as you explore your options. This can especially be helpful if you’re looking for a practice that offers sliding scale pricing, or tiered pricing that allows for financial flexibility for low-income folks. (Curious or want to learn more about sliding scale? Click here for a helpful infographic!)

Next, if you have insurance, learn what your mental health benefits are. Find out if you have in-network and/or out-of-network benefits. If you have in-network benefits, it means that you need a provider that is contracted with your insurance and will bill them directly. Find out what your co-pay is and if you have a deductible.

Many therapists do not accept insurance directly but are out-of-network providers. This means that you will pay the therapist directly, and then they will provide you with the necessary paperwork for you to get reimbursement from your insurance. Make sure to find out if you have a deductible or an allowed amount for out-of-network (OON) benefits. 

Many different searching platforms offer a way to filter your search to strictly providers that accept your insurance. Not every practice is covered by all insurances, so this can be key in limiting confusion as you continue your search. 

Get to Searching – and Understanding

Especially for someone who is new to the world of therapy, diving in head first and being met with a sea of confusing acronyms and jargon can be very very overwhelming. Here’s a quick cheat sheet on common credentials and what they mean. 

• LMSW/LCSW: A Licensed Master/Clinical Social Worker has a degree in Social Work, meaning they operate from frameworks of understanding the ways that social environments affect us on the individual scale. An LCSW can diagnose issues and offer psychotherapy without supervision, while an LMSW needs supervision from an LCSW to do so. 

• PsyD: This acronym indicates that someone holds a doctoral degree in the clinical and applied aspects of psychology. This is a straightforward degree that focuses less on the research aspects of academia and more on the practical applications of psychology, best suited for therapists who are interested in working on a personal basis with clients. 

• QMHP: A QMHP or Qualified Mental Health Professional is a catch-all acronym for any mental health professional who holds at minimum a Bachelor’s degree, including psychologists, psychiatrists, counselors, and social workers. 

• MD: MD is often seen in the qualifications of psychiatrists — it stands for Doctor of Medicine, and indicates a medical doctor who specializes in mental health. Most often, they primarily practice medication management, though some psychiatrists also practice talk therapy.

And this is just a starting point. There are more unique qualifications that therapists can be categorized under, and often these qualifications indicate strengths, modalities, education, and backgrounds. Not to mention the acronyms denoting unique treatment styles! 

If you’re interested in further information regarding treatment styles and acronyms, we have a glossary available here for ease of understanding. We know how confusing it can get, and we’ve got you.

Tap into your Network 

Asking your friends, loved ones, and even your primary care physician for recommendations is a great way to discover therapists you might not have found otherwise. Especially if you and your friends need support in similar ways, have similar struggles, or similar identities, it can be very helpful to have a trusted referral from someone you care about. 

It is important to remember, though, that as every individual’s personal mental health journey is unique to them, these referrals may not be the exact right fit. They can, however, serve as a good starting point as you begin your research.

Another tip that might be helpful is to find mental healthcare professionals who may offer services you’re looking for on social media. Instagram is filled with psychology and psychotherapy practices, individual therapists, and more advertising their services, sharing their thoughts, and talking about their practices as mental health professionals. By diving into the world of mental health on social media, you may just be able to find someone that you’d like to work with. 

Prepare for the Consultations

Ahead of a consultation call with a potential new therapist, take some time to get organized. These calls are typically 15 minutes, so it's best to maximise your time by focusing on what matters most to you.

First, see what you can find on your own. What information can you find on their website or social media? What does their online presence say about their treatment styles, the way they operate, and their specialties? Do they have information about financing or insurance on their website?

Next, decide what you want to know from this potential new therapist. What questions do you have that they haven’t been able to answer on their online bios, websites, and profiles? If it’s helpful to you, write up a list ahead of time. You can also keep the list with you during the consultation so that you can take notes of your potential therapist’s responses. To help you get started, consider asking questions about the therapist’s

• Experience and background

• Areas of interest, specialities

• Therapeutic approach and modalities

• Practice policies

Get a vibe check. Research shows that a positive relationship with your therapist is a higher indicator of successful treatment than the therapeutic modality used. Is this a person you feel comfortable talking to? Do you feel heard and understood during the call? Maybe you prefer someone approachable with a sense of humor, or maybe you vibe better with someone who has a more serious demeanor. We recommend doing more than one consultation so you can get a sense of people’s different styles and what feels best to you.

Begin your New Journey -- with your New Therapist!

Ideally, after this process, you will have found your new therapist. After your initial consultation, if you both agree that you will be a good fit to work together, the next step is onboarding and intake. This often involves intake paperwork and questions regarding your background, mental health history, family history regarding mental health, and current therapeutic goals. 

This marks the start of your next mental health journey with your new therapist! Are you looking for a new mental health professional to help guide you through your healing journey? The trauma experts here at Magnolia Psychotherapy have openings for new clients of all kinds. Click here to explore our team!