How Do I Find the Right Therapist?

Choosing the right therapist can feel overwhelming, especially if you’re not sure what to look for. Many people start by Googling “therapist near me” to find someone local, but beyond that first step, it’s common to feel unsure about how to narrow down the options.

When searching for a therapist, people often consider the following factors:

1. Location: Many individuals prefer a therapist who is nearby or within reasonable driving distance.
2. Cost: Cost and fees are often important, including whether a therapist accepts your insurance.
3. Availability: Some people prefer telehealth or in-person sessions, while others need specific appointment times, such as evenings after 5 p.m.
4. Gender, age, or cultural background: You may feel more comfortable working with a therapist who shares (or does not share) your gender, age, or cultural background.

While personal preferences are important, there are also additional factors to consider when choosing a therapist. One helpful first step is identifying your main concern or presenting issue. For example, are you seeking support for anxiety, depression, anger, addiction, trauma, or are you not sure? If you are not sure, that is okay, a therapist will often ask you a series of questions to find out what it is that you may be struggling with.

Most therapists are trained to treat common concerns such as anxiety and depression. However, many go on to specialize in specific areas of counseling where they receive advanced training. Not all therapists are equipped to treat every concern. Much like a pediatrician focuses on children or a cardiologist treats heart conditions, therapists often specialize in certain areas. Some concerns that typically require additional specialized training include child therapy, couples therapy, addiction counseling, trauma treatment, and eating disorders.

Because of this, it’s important to research whether a therapist is trained to address your specific concern. Most therapists include a professional bio on their website that outlines their areas of specialization. Reading a therapist’s bio can help you determine whether they may be a good fit. If a bio is not available, reaching out directly and asking questions—such as, “Do you specialize in treating…?”—can be very helpful.

In addition, therapists may use different treatment approaches, known as therapeutic modalities. If you are interested in a specific type of therapy, it’s important to ask whether the therapist is trained in that approach. Common modalities include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Motivational Interviewing (MI), Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Internal Family Systems (IFS), among others.

If you’re unfamiliar with these modalities, that’s completely okay—most people aren’t familiar with the various treatment modalities. In that case, focusing on finding a therapist who is experienced in treating your specific concern is often the best place to start.

If you are considering a Serene Solutions therapist and want help finding someone who treats your specific concern, feel free to click the blue link “Find a therapist” below to browse our list of specialties and learn more about our therapists: Find a therapist