Reaching out to a therapist is the first step to start the healing you deserve. Finding the right person for your journey can require more help than a typical Google search. If you’re ready to find a licensed mental health professional who can guide your growth, learn how to find a therapist with an online resource that makes the process easy.
Why Finding the Right Therapist Is Crucial
If you look up a therapist in your hometown, you may find several options. Although they could all have active licenses, they might not be great matches for your growth needs. Connecting with the best person before your first session is important for numerous reasons.
Licensed Therapists Use Different Modalities
Mental health professionals use different techniques to treat their clients. If you need to heal from childhood trauma, someone specializing in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) might be a better fit than someone who provides art therapy for stress management. Compare each potential therapist’s psychological and emotional treatment approaches with online filters to feel confident about how they help people with your personal history.
Therapy Requires Feeling Safe
Working with a therapist means being open about your most private feelings. You might have to talk about sensitive topics from your past or present-day concerns that put you on edge. Your therapist should be someone who makes you feel safe enough to venture into those topics without feeling judged or alone.
Continuing to meet with a professional who makes you uncomfortable could result in pseudo vulnerability. You might say things that sound open, but still hold things back due to the therapist’s lack of experience, personal beliefs or your unresolved trauma triggers. Pseudo vulnerability prevents emotional processing and self-reflection, which are necessary for healing. Meeting with therapists during consultation calls will clarify how you feel around them.
Your Sessions Could Last Longer Than Expected
You might think you need therapy for a couple of weeks or months to work through a concern. After you start your sessions, you may realize that you want to discuss other things too. Some people remain in therapy for years to fully work through their personal struggles. You might have to work with your therapist longer than expected, so finding a good fit is crucial.
How to Find a Therapist Online
Anyone can find a great therapist online with tools like Zencare. Zencare helps people find their ideal therapist with specific filters that direct them toward safe, supportive spaces. Use the tool to take the essential steps to start your healing journey.
1. Decide What Matters Most to You
Consider why you want to attend therapy sessions. Do you need help with a specific trauma? Maybe you’re unsure why you feel stuck in a particular pattern. You could also need a therapist with experience supporting people from the LGBTQ+ community.
Identifying what you need from your therapy experience will help you shape your priorities before your search begins. Think about whether you prefer a specific modality or need a therapist with expertise in particular topics. Do you want someone who approaches their treatments from a religious perspective or a person who exclusively meets clients in person? Your answers will get you closer to the most effective therapist who makes you comfortable during your sessions.
2. Complete a Personalized Search
Zencare guides people through quick searches for therapists close to home. Explore the website’s list of licensed mental health professionals and the available filters. You can quickly note your priorities to match with an expert right away.
If you’re unsure where to start, Zencare also offers a personalized quiz. The questions present filters for potential session topics, therapist-specific identity feathers and personal belief options. The quiz also asks about your insurance. Once you complete the questions, you’ll see a map of local providers with stars next to the people who are the best match according to your answers. Zencare’s filters remove the guesswork while you find a great mental health treatment provider.
3. Schedule Your Consultation Appointment
When you find a few therapists that catch your eye or seem like a good fit, watch their introductory videos. Zencare lets therapists post videos on their profiles, which isn’t common with other online resources. The videos will help you understand who each therapist is and what they’re passionate about before potentially scheduling a consultation call.
You can always contact the therapists you like through Zencare. They’ll schedule an in-person or virtual consultation for free. Your initial appointment is essential in determining the best licensed professional for your growth. You can spend the entire appointment asking questions to learn about them and their modalities while considering whether they’re a good match for you.
4. Create Your Ideal Therapy Schedule
Schedule your first appointment with that therapist if your consultation call goes well. They’ll maintain a safe, supportive environment for every session as long as you need support. You’ll feel confident showing up to unpack whatever is on your mind because you’ve used Zencare’s personalized guidance to connect with someone who’s an excellent fit for you. The company estimates that 350,000 clients have used Zencare to connect with great providers, so it could be the best way to contact a mental health expert during your search.
Find an Incredible Therapist Online
Anyone can learn how to find a therapist with an accessible tool like Zencare. The platform’s user-friendly interface and personalized quiz connect people with licensed mental health professionals who meet their needs. You’ll jump-start your healing journey by starting it alongside a therapist with the expertise to help with your specific concerns.
