How to find a ptsd therapist

[Choosing]

I can’t find a therapist in my area who specializes in PTSD and takes my insurance. Ideas? There is no way I’m going to see anyone untrained for this.
L

 

[anonymous]

I think I MAY be in the same boat as you.

 

[EveHarrington]

Psychologytoday.com?

 

[Suzetig]

Not specialising in PTSD doesn't mean untrained and doesn't necessarily mean they can't do the work. It's fine to want someone with experience in the issues you're struggling with but a good, experienced general therapist should be able to work with most folk who have a PTSD diagnosis.

When you say "specialist" what are you looking for in a T, what training or qualification would tell you they are specialised in PTSD? I ask because anyone can say their specialist in anything really and it not be the case. Are you looking for an evidence based, manualised therapy like emdr or trauma focussed CBT? Or are you looking for a more long term, relational therapy?

Basically, other than someone putting PTSD as one of their "specialties", how would you know they had the level of training you think they need to work with you?

 

[Ann Barry]

I can’t find a therapist in my area who specializes in PTSD and takes my insurance. Ideas? There is...

Me neither: Right therapist with the right training, experience & method. Yep, insurance challenge too.
You'd think with all USA Veterns afflicted with PTSD that there'd be more services in more areas. Go figure.
...keep searching, until... I am. Not settling for mediocre therapist again!

 

[KwanYingirl]

I would encourage you to call your local domestic violence agency/rape and assault for some recommendations. I’ve had two therapists who weren’t specifically traine in trauma, but they encouraged me to find one. Even when I got the name of one, it was a year before I called him. And he is totally different than my previous ones. He really gets the mind/body disconnection.

 

[Nessa7]

Have you tried contacting your insurance? They may have a therapist directory.

 

[Ann Barry]

I would encourage you to call your local domestic violence agency/rape and assault for some recomme...

Yep, the mind-body connection is an important Key. Will you say which type of treatment you're receiving: EMDR? CBT? DBT? Other?
THX!

Have you tried contacting your insurance? They may have a therapist directory.

Yep, good advice. I did so, but without satisfaction. THX.

 

[Deleted member 42665]

I agree with the psychology today.com idea, you can search your area an it tells you what they specialize in on each profile

 

[Ann Barry]

I agree with the psychology today.com idea, you can search your area an it tells you what they speci...

Yes, this is a good idea... think I did search once without following thru. Will try again. THX!

 

[Choosing]

Thank you for all of your helpful replies. I honestly appreciate you taking the time.

Here's what I've tried:
Searching through my health insurance's therapist list (not one PTSD therapist)
Searching the Psychology site
Searching Google for PTSD therapists in my area and then going on each therapist's site to see if they take my insurance
Going to see two therapists who did take my insurance (they knew less about PTSD than I do)

I did 5 years of very intensive therapy (sometimes twice a week during the worst of it) starting when I was 19 with a gifted Clinical Social Worker who specialized in disassociation and trauma. She literally helped me change the trajectory of my life. That was before PTSD was a diagnosis for people who'd survived torture. I've been reading over the past year about some PTSD treatments that I've never tried before. I'd like to try one/some of them to see if I can make some progress on some disassociative tendencies I still have along with other triggers. I've made so much progress (truly a miracle), but I want to reclaim more of myself.
L

I would encourage you to call your local domestic violence agency/rape and assault for some recomme...

That is a very good idea, but that one hits very close to home. I just don't think I could make the call. Making calls is hard enough for me.
L

For those of you who found a PTSD therapist, how did you find one?
L

 

[KwanYingirl]

@Ann Barry to be honest, I don’t know what kind of therapy I’m getting. Trauma focused, for sure, learning how to tolerate distress, constant encouragement that im making progress, debunking myths. Learning how pervasive symptoms of PTSD are. Right now, we are working on my phobias and my hope with that is to have less anticipatory anxiety.

@Choosing my first therapist was my sons therapist and I felt safe with him. Then I moved and lived without one for awhile. My Boc Tehab counselor noticed how depressed I was and recommended the next one. She was helpful with my chronic SI, but she got promoted so she couldn’t do her clinical work anymore. Both of these therapists told me EMDR would help. I had a client that I grew close to and we are both recovering alcoholics. She told me she had EMDR and loved her therapist. It took me a year to finally call him. He is a highly skilled trauma specialist. Along with his work, he has encouraged me to try energy based healing like yoga, reiki, massage, etc. he used to train other therapists how to work with trauma sufferers, but he missed the client contact, so now he does some legal cases, but mostly is working directly with clients. He will not use EMDR on me because I dissociate at the mere thought of some very disturbing memories. I can’t go there. Even writing these words I feel anxious. But I haven’t cut for a really long time. Progress not perfection. Practicing mindfulness.