Finding a Therapist

     As all of you have probably realized at this point, I'm all for mental health counseling. I love therapy. I think everyone should go at least once in their lives, even if they think nothing is wrong with them. (Nothing has to be "wrong with you" to go see a therapist, by the way.) As you also probably know, I'm quick to suggest that people go see a therapist, but then that's usually the end of the conversation. I usually don't think to mention how they can find a therapist or where they can go to actually talk to a therapist unless they ask.
     I was thinking about that this weekend, and something occurred to me. A lot of people, in fact, I'd say most people, have no idea how to find a therapist. People know what they see on TV. You know how it goes: someone asks, "Have you thought about talking to someone about this?" or "I really think you should see someone about this." Or, worse, they see someone in a hospital after an "incident" or they see someone involuntarily committed. Then, suddenly, the scene changes, and the person is sitting calmly in a chair or lying on a couch talking to a therapist. It's like someone says a person needs therapy, and then a therapist just appears Mary Poppins-style with a bag of tricks and tools. Nobody even needs to say the words "therapist", "counselor", "psychologist" or even "doctor", it just...happens, and we understand that those words are implied.
     In reality, we all know that isn't how finding any kind of medical treatment works. Finding mental health treatment is no different. It's the same process, but it can appear more daunting because mental health treatment is still shrouded in mystery with a lingering layer of taboo that varies in severity based on the area in which you live and your cultural background. I completely understand how people might not know if their area even has any mental health counseling options. So, let's get rid of the mystery and break finding a therapist down into manageable steps.
    Step 1: You literally just ask. You can ask any friends or family if they know anyone who has gone to therapy or if they know of any therapists they could recommend. You can also talk to your school counselor if you're in high school or middle school. You can talk to your campus counselors if you're in college or university. You can call your family doctor and make an appointment to discuss mental health treatment options in your area. You can also call your insurance company and ask about in-network mental health services, if you have insurance. You can also just Google "MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES NEAR ME", and that should give you a list of names and numbers along with an interactive Google map of every publicly-listed mental health professional within about a 30-mile radius of where you live.
     Step 2: Research. I like to look up the therapists. I like to read reviews and look at their websites. That way if you've been diagnosed with a condition like an eating disorder, anxiety disorder, depression, or PTSD, you can possibly narrow down the list of names based on whether or not that therapist or agency is able to treat your condition.
     Step 3: You make some phone calls. You have your list of potential therapists or mental health agencies, and you call them. If it's a community mental health organization, you just schedule an intake appointment, and they put you with a therapist that would be most helpful. If you can't travel, you can also ask if the agency or private therapist does Skype or tele-sessions (done on a TV monitor), or phone sessions. If they're a private therapist, it's also a good idea to ask if they're licensed and what kind of degree they have.
     As you're doing your research, you'll see a lot of initials after the person's name, which can be confusing, especially if you've never sought mental health treatment before. Your therapist or counselor absolutely needs to be licensed, and they should have a Masters degree or higher. One degree or license isn't "better" than the other. So, let's break down some of the most common degrees and licenses you might see, too, while you're looking for a therapist.
     1. Ph.D. and Psy.D.: Both of these are doctoral degrees in Psychology and/or Mental Health       Counseling. Both provide mental health counseling. (My current therapist is a Psy.D.)
     2. DSW: This is a Doctor of Social Work. This person can also provide mental health counseling if they are a Clinical Social Worker.
     3. LCSW: This is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. They have a Masters degree in Clinical Social Work. This is a social worker that has specialized in mental health. They provide mental health counseling. (My first therapist was a LCSW.)
     4. LPC: This is a Licensed Professional Counselor. They have a Masters degree in Mental and/or Behavioral Therapy. They provide mental health counseling.
     5. LMHC: This is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor. They have a Masters degree in Mental Health Counseling. They provide mental health counseling.
     6. MFT: This is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. They have a Masters Degree in Mental Health Counseling with a focus on Marriage and Family Therapy or a degree in Marriage and Family Therapy. They provide counseling to family units, not individuals unless they have another qualification listed along with the MFT.
     I'll end with this: Finding a therapist still seems like a mysterious, taboo process, but it's just like looking for any other kind of service we might need. Please, don't be afraid to ask any questions you have about finding a therapist, the kinds of therapists that are out there, or the cost of therapy. The information is out there, and there are people that can help you find it. I'm happy to help if anyone wants to ask. Also, if you're going to suggest someone see a therapist, it wouldn't hurt to offer names of private therapists or community agencies with the suggestion, or just to offer to help someone gather information.