Getting Professional Help
How to find a Therapist (USA)
If you have insurance, call your insurance company and talk to them about getting connected with a therapist who is covered by your insurance. They will help you find someone, and you can ask about the specialties that would be ideal for you.
Resources (USA)
Psychology Today – A website where you can search by filters, insurance, zip code, specialty, etc. to find the right therapist for you.
American Psychological Association locator – Another site where you can search for a mental health professional based on location and other filters.
Finding The Right Therapist for You
Not every therapist will be the right one for you. Especially in today’s therapy environment, it can be hard to think about leaving a therapist once you have one because finding one in the first place (depending on where you live) can be such a challenge. However, looking for a new therapist is worthwhile if the one you’re currently with is not the right fit. This doesn’t mean your current therapist isn’t good – but not every therapist suits every client. A pair of shoes can be expertly handcrafted with some of the most expensive materials in the world, but if they don’t come in your size, you won’t be able to walk in them comfortably.
Stay with your therapist as long as they’re not actively harming you while you find a new one – they may even be able to help you find one (a good therapist will understand if you say they’re not a good fit and will help you find a new one). That said, give a therapist a few sessions – unless they give you a big red flag, don’t write them off after a session or two without good reason.
In essence, make sure you go into therapist-client relationships giving your therapist a fair chance, but also recognizing that they may not be the perfect fit, and if it ends up not being right, it is better for you to keep looking. Also, unfortunately, there are bad seeds out there, and if there are major red flags that come up, listen to your gut, talk to others you trust, and end the relationship if necessary.
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