Like any relationship, finding a therapist is about connection. Therapists are just people, and sometimes they aren’t the right person for you. It can be overwhelming to go through the process of finding a therapist, especially when you are looking because you are in a challenging place. The research, setting up multiple appointments, sharing your experiences and current situation over and over again. I get it, the effort to even find someone you feel comfortable with can be more work than you an even muster up the energy for. The good news is you don’t have to do it all at once. If you have the space to meet with a couple of therapists, you will find someone that is a good match for you. Here is a simple break down:
Step 1: Find a potential therapist: Where do you even start? Well, if you have made it this far you know it can be as simple as Googling “therapist in my area,” utilizing http://psychology.com/, or asking your medical doctor for guidance. Even asking a friend or family member if they know of anyone can be a good first step. There are additional resources available to both help direct you to someone who might be a good fit, or emergent services if you are need of more immediate support, such as Austin Travis County Integral Care at 512-472-4357 or National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI) https://namicentraltx.org/crisis/.
Step 2: Accepting new patients, payment options and why you are looking: Once you have found a therapist you think might be a good fit make a phone call or send an email. You would confirm they are accepting new patients, verify payment options - insurance or private pay, and give a brief description of why you are looking for a therapist allowing them to share whether it is something they feel they can help with, this will help you decide if meeting them in person is the next step.
Step 3: Set up a session and connect: A lot of therapists are opening up to tele-health and online appointment, this can be great tool for meeting with a few different people from the comfort of your own home. You might realize in your first session whether you do or don’t have an initial connection, but be patient! Again, like any relationship it may take a couple of sessions to build rapport and get a better idea of whether this is a connection that works for you. Be assured that therapists build a community to help people like you find the right fit. You aren’t alone in this process, and we are here to help you find the therapist that is right for you.
While finding the right therapist can be overwhelming, once you have found a good fit, we are here to provide you a safe space and have the skills, training and resources to meet you where you are.
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