How to Find the Right Therapist
Finding and connecting with the right therapist is SO important. The relationship you have with your therapist has been cited in many studies as the most important component in doing this work.
SHOP AROUND
Don’t be afraid to shop around! I get calls all the time of people that have therapists lined up to speak to and I CELEBRATE that! Most therapists offer a free, 15-30 consultation to talk, ask questions, and see if you connect and if y’all are a good fit. I recommend speaking to 3-5 therapists and see who you feel most connected to.
MONEY
Consider your budget and how much you can and are willing to invest in your mental health. Will you be using insurance? Some therapists offer sliding-scale sessions. Therapists are used to talking about these things don’t feel weird talking shop about money.
HAVE THEY DONE THEIR OWN THERAPY?
Honestly - this is a big one for me. Whether I’m looking for a therapist or considering a referral - I want to know if they have done their own work. Do they know what its like to be on this side of the screen and share your darkest, most inner intimate thoughts? Don’t be afraid to ask this question.
TRUST YOUR GUT
And this comes with knowing what is fear and what is intuition. It’s normal to feel nervous when you’re talking to a new therapist, but try to listen in and tune in to how you feel with them in the room/on zoom.
Hope this is a good starting point for those of you wanting to get into therapy. Please reach out and let me know if you have any questions, need support. Also. if there are any other gems that you’d like to share with the community on how to find a therapist or interesting questions to ask, drop them below in the comments.
Sara Povey
Co-Founder | Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist | Clinical Director
Sara’s work is grounded in neuroscience and attachment research. She has studied trauma in depth from both Somatic (body) and Polyvagal (nervous system) perspectives and offers EMDR for anxiety, self-esteem, and trauma.
She is a guide for people on the journey into themselves. In addition to individual therapy and couples counseling, Sara leads an 8-week, weekly, virtual workshop for women who want to get curious about their relationship with alcohol and be more intentional about how, when, and why they drink.