The Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB) provides quick links to each state's database. You can always search a therapist's license number through your state. Keep in mind that in order to provide therapy in the U.S., practitioners must be licensed and have appropriate credentials, and these are typically listed on their websites. There are many other designations, too, and a quick Google search can help you decode anything you don't recognize when you're doing research. These credentials can include letters like MSW (masters in social work), LCSW (licensed clinical social worker), LMFT (licensed marriage family therapist), and LPC (licensed professional counselor). In addition to clinical psychologists, you can find licensed therapists, most having a minimum of a Master's Degree. after their names, indicating that they have completed doctoral degrees in psychology. It's important to have a basic grasp of all those letters after their names, as each indicates the level of schooling the professional has had and the type of remedies they can prescribe.įor example, clinical psychologists will have Ph.D. Not all licensed mental health professionals have the same credentials - there are a variety of certifications, education, and licensing that allow them to practice. Check out Psychology Today’s page on types of therapy that exist. Do you want someone who works from a mindfulness-based perspective, perhaps offering meditations to ease anxiety? Maybe you want a female who works exclusively with the LGBTQ+ community? What about someone who specializes in very specific techniques like existential therapy (yes, that exists)? Suffice it to say there are hundreds of treatment types you can choose from and all kinds of specializations. If you're seeking a therapist, it's a good idea to consider your needs and preferences. Since mental health professionals are far more open to virtual sessions these days, it's even easier to find someone you click with.Ī good therapist will support your self-determination and leave you feeling more seen and understood Rather than having to rely on the recommendation of hushed names whispered in bars, or the miswritten numbers of a friend's therapist scribbled on a napkin, you can hit the web, where you'll find thousands of options. Each one had their high points and their low points, but today, it's much easier to find a therapist than when I was 16. I've cycled through at least a dozen (probably more) therapists since I was 16 years old. I could tell you that it's super easy to find the therapist who will work with you to improve whatever you are struggling with - but I'd be lying. Here’s what you can expect when you see a therapist for the first time (and how to get over those first-time jitters). That being said, finding a therapist and working with one for the first time are the two major hurdles you’ll have to clear before you can see the long-term benefits of working with someone who has your best mental health in mind, and sometimes that can be the toughest step to take. As a result of social distancing, many therapists are conducting their sessions virtually, too, choosing to do phone or video sessions via secure HIPAA-approved platforms to protect patient privacy. You don’t even have to physically go anywhere in some cases, and you can simply text a therapist who can help you figure out what next steps you might need to take, thanks to platforms like Talkspace, BetterHelp, Therapy for Black Girls, and Ginger. These days, however, it’s easier than ever to connect to a mental health professional. It’s uncomfortable to admit that the challenges you’re facing, whether they are real and immediate or long-standing and creeping, might require expert advice. I'm not sure it gets easier, but it does get more familiar. Trust me - I've walked myself into a new therapist's office more times than I can count over the last 24 years. It can make you feel vulnerable, strange, awkward, or even like a broken toy in need of repair. Walking into a therapist's office or speaking to a mental health professional on the phone for the first time isn't always easy.
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