When Searching For A New Therapist Online...

[Lotis]

What do you look for?

I think I might be ready to start looking for a new therapist...although still hearing that voice in my head say "nahhh you don't need anyone"! Trying really hard to fight that off. Anyways, since I have zero confidence in myself after my last debacle of an attempt at having a new therapist, I'd thought I'd ask here.
I know I want a female therapist I cannot even imagine speaking with a male. So I can limit my search to that. Also, when searching through the providers listing I can also include a specialty - well when I put in PTSD it seems everyone is a friggin' specialist! So how do you know if they truly are or they just put it in there for whatever reason?
What have you all done to find a good therapist without a referral and by just looking through a listing? Any advice would be helpful. Thanks
~L

 

[theshadowoftheliving]

I read their research. This day and age you should be able to find atleast an abstract of their work (or dissertation) online. Ithink that tells a lot about their biases.

 

[Silver.]

I think the best thing, if it seems like they all fit the criteria you are looking for, is to call and ask. Or if the websites provide an email address, email them (which I think is better than using the phone). You want to make sure they are certified, that if you have insurance that they will take it. There are websites that do reviews of therapists, you could look up a particular therapist to see if they have good reviews. You can also schedule a "meet and greet" to see if you are going to click with them. I do this when I am searching for a new doctor, T, anything like that. Sometimes it just isn't a good match and it's good to know beforehand (I think).
Best of luck finding one, and congratulations on seeing that you need one. When you find the right one it's going to make a world of difference to helping you on your path to healing.

 

[Lotis]

@theshadowoftheliving Really? How do I do that? All I have been doing is googling the person but more than half of the time I find very minimal info :(
~L

 

[Lotis]

I think the best thing, if it seems like they all fit the criteria you are looking for, is to call and...

Thank you - I've searched for a therapist in the past but it did not turn out well. Allot do not have e-mails if you can believe that! I also would prefer to email rather than call - I am just nervous and less likely to call then email. I haven't tried any review sites - but if I google their name and nothing comes up I would assume they aren't registered on any site like that.
~L

 

[Lotis]

:roflmao:
So I am looking online for review sites and I am cracking up at some of the therapist pics! Some are like old highschool grad picks hehehe.... sorry just made me laugh and had to share. I needed a laugh today.
OK back to seriously looking!
:laugh:
~L

 

[Silver.]

I actually saw one therapist's picture when I was looking last year that looked like one of those 90's glamour shots, was a good laugh :roflmao: Glad you can get your spirits up, I know how tedious it can get trying to get to the end goal x

 

[Lotis]

looked like one of those 90's glamour shots

Yes!!! I am glad they have their pictures posted. Some of the pics are really not professional which speaks volumes about how their therapy must be like! Some are even all blurry I can't even make them out.
~L

 

[joeylittle]

You can limit the search by zip code (in terms of how far you want to go) and insurance (whether they take it, or have a sliding scale).

You can choose to sort them by license type - you'd need to do a little bit of reading to see how much you cared (if at all) about the differences between (say) an LCSW, an LCPC, a psychologist, and an LMFT.

When looking trauma-specific you can search for people certified in somatic (SE) or EMDR, or EFT - lots of people may list trauma and PTSD on the conditions they treat, but what they've spent additional time training in will tell you a lot. I also tend to find that therapists who are passionate about trauma work emphasize it in some way in their bio.

If you want faith-based, you can include that.

 

[Lotis]

You can limit the search by zip code (in terms of how far you want to go) and insurance (whether they take it, or have a sliding scale).

What exactly does it mean sliding scale? Like they will accept less money or something?
~L

 

[joeylittle]

Like they will accept less money or something?

Yep, exactly. That they are willing to negotiate with clients who are under- or un- insured, based on what the client can afford.