Finding a therapist, let alone a good fit, can take time and determination, especially during the pandemic when many therapists are reporting they can’t keep up with demand and must turn away patients.
When the New York Times surveyed 1,320 mental health professionals in November, nine out of 10 therapists said the number of people seeking care was increasing. During a Senate committee hearing in February to address the nation’s growing mental health and substance abuse problem, Senator Patty Murray of Washington indicated that nearly 130 million Americans live in places with less than one mental health care provider for every 30,000 people.
Even therapists can have trouble finding help. Thomas Armstrong, a clinical psychologist in eastern Washington, waited more than a year to receive treatment for his youngest child, who was 2 years old when the search began. And it took him more than two years to get the most beneficial treatment, which he found only after he connected to his academic network through Twitter.
“All the stars had to align for me,” he said.
If you’re looking for a mental health provider, don’t give up; There are several strategies that can help.
Call a friend.
For some people, such as those suffering from a debilitating bout of depression, the thought of spending weeks or months searching for a therapist can seem overwhelming.
“It’s not something you’re doing wrong, it’s that the system is inherently broken and needs to be fixed,” said Jessi Gold, a psychiatrist at Washington University in St. Louis.
If you don’t have the energy to get started, ask a friend or family member to help you contact providers and make an appointment, Dr. Gold suggested. It’s “one of the best ways people who care about you can help you with your mental health,” he added.
You can also try getting referrals directly from your personal network, whether it’s someone from your local parenting group, your friend’s therapist, an obstetrician, your primary care doctor, or a trusted colleague. For students, referrals can also come from campus counseling centers, health centers, or a vocational counselor.
Jeanie W. Shiau, a licensed clinical social worker in Georgia whose practice is typically 90 percent complete, often helps find providers for patients she can’t see individually.
His philosophy, he said, is that “connecting people to resources is part of our ‘rent’ for being human on this planet.”
Take advantage of a provider that is new to the field.
One of the best places to call is the psychology clinic at your local university, which trains graduate students, said Margaret E. Crane, a doctoral candidate in clinical psychology at Temple University, whose dissertation compares strategies to help caregivers to seek therapy for juvenile anxiety.
These clinics offer evidence-based treatments for both children and adults, she added, and often have shorter waiting lists than community clinics or therapists in private practice. “They can also provide you with high-quality referrals in the area,” she said.
You may also consider working with someone who has earned a degree but is still gathering the supervised experience necessary to obtain a professional license. These doctors are usually less expensive and their work is continually being reviewed by a more experienced therapist.
Finally, when looking for a provider, don’t assume that a higher grade equals better therapy. Keep in mind that most licensed therapists in the United States, such as licensed clinical social workers and licensed professional counselors, have master’s degrees, not doctorates.
“Instead of searching for a specific title, look for therapists who have been trained in evidence-based treatments such as cognitive behavioral therapy,” said Ms. Crane.
Check the benefits of your employees.
Arniece Stevenson, 34, a graduate student in Philadelphia who works for the Girl Scouts, used her Employee Assistance Program, or EAP, to locate a therapist faster than she expected.
An EAP is a free intervention program that can help employees resolve personal issues by connecting them to the right resources and may also provide a small number of free therapy sessions.
EAPs are billed as confidential, but some employees are reluctant to contact them for privacy reasons. Mrs. Stevenson was hesitant, but she finally came over one night around midnight. “I just had to pluck up my courage,” she said.
The person he spoke to said someone would call him back soon. The next day, she heard from a therapist that she could start seeing her right away.
“I was shocked, I was like, ‘Wait, already?’” she said.
The attending therapist is white, and Ms. Stevenson, who is black, said she would have preferred an African-American provider. But the two “coincidentally clicked,” Stevenson added.
Explore digital directories and virtual options.
Many people start their search for a provider by scrolling through their insurance company’s list of providers and then checking them against another database like Psychology Today to learn more about each provider.
However, the insurance company’s list may not be up to date and some providers may not respond to your inquiries because they are already full.
In some cases, it may be more efficient to search for free online directories where you can filter the results based on who is currently taking on new clients. Options include Soul, ZocDoc, Monarch and Progress.
Companies like improvehelp, 7 cups of tea and conversation space Offer online therapy and messaging with a licensed physician for a weekly or monthly membership fee.
And if you’re specifically looking for a color supplierA variety of websites have sprung up in recent years to help make those connections, including therapy for black girls, LatinxTherapy and the National Network of Trans and Queer Therapists of Color.
Look for non-profit organizations.
Nonprofit organizations focused on helping specific groups can also help people find a therapist.
Examples include the Beacon Tree Foundation, which helps Virginia parents of children with mental illness; the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention; and the Anxiety and Depression Association of America.
International postpartum support It took just two days to connect Melanie Vega, 39, to a provider on her insurance panel when she developed postpartum depression after the birth of her first child.
“I knew something was wrong when I told myself that my family would be better off without me,” said Ms. Vega, who has now been seeing that therapist for four years. “She has helped me tremendously.”
Other helpful nonprofits include The Trevor Project, which offers trained counselors for LGBTQ youth; the trans lifeline; black men heal; and the Asian Mental Health Collective.
What if you don’t have insurance?
Some therapists are open to charging sliding scale fees based on a patient’s income, so don’t hesitate to ask. And check out non-profits Open Road Collective and Therapy4thePeople for directories of therapists that charge as little as $30 per session.
Sesame also offers low-cost mental health consultations that do not require insurance.
Community mental health programs are another option. You can look them up through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration treatment locator.
You can also often find free or low-cost programs at local hospitals and medical schools.
FindTreatment.gov helps people find treatment for substance use disorders and includes information on which organizations offer payment assistance.
If there is a crisis, don’t wait.
Those who have tried to harm themselves, or are in the process of doing so, should go to an emergency room or call 911.
If you or a loved one is having suicidal thoughts, call National Lifeline for Suicide Prevention: 1-800-273-8255 (TALK); in Spanish: 1-888-628-9454; for the deaf and hard of hearing: dial 711, then 1-800-273-8255.
You can also text HOME to 741-741 to connect with a trained crisis counselor and receive free support via text from Home. crisis text line.
The National Alliance on Mental Illness has information on other types of mental health crisis servicessuch as mobile crisis teams and crisis stabilization units. And you can find a list of additional resources at SpeakingofSuicide.com/resources.
