How to Choose the Right Therapist
It is essential to consider several factors when choosing a therapist to make sure that you find a professional who will best fit your needs. First and foremost, it would be helpful to determine the financial options for the therapy services. If you plan to utilize your insurance benefits, it can be useful to go to your insurance website and search for therapist providers that are covered as part of your network. This resource can give you additional information regarding how many sessions are allowed for your insurance plan, as well as any fees or copays you might be required to pay for each session.
At Sillon Wellness Services, we accept Tricare insurance, Aetna insurance, Cigna Insurance, and TRIWest Insurance for counseling.
Next, it can be helpful to utilize special psychology websites that give you a glimpse of therapists in your local area. Some examples of these websites would be Psychology Today, Therapy Den, etc. You can use these websites to take a look at different profiles that provide you with information about a particular therapist’s expertise and approach to therapy. Most importantly, it can be helpful to work with a therapist who is licensed and qualified to provide therapy within their field or area of expertise.
From this point, you may notice that some therapists have different credentials than others. Some examples would be Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), and Licensed Psychologist (PhD or PsyD). These differences in credentialing can determine the therapist’s level of education, years of training, and areas of expertise. However, most therapists are typically able to provide therapy regardless of their credentials.
These profiles can also help you determine what areas of specialty and which types of populations that the therapist has experience with. For example, you might see a profile of a therapist that advertises that they have experience working with depression and that they have extensive experience working with veterans/military populations. This would be an indication that the therapist would be a great fit, if you were a veteran who was experiencing symptoms of depression.
Another consideration to think about when looking for a therapist is what type of therapy they provide. Therapists tend to approach therapy in different ways and the type of therapy that they engage in would be a great indication of what type of therapist they are in session. Some therapeutic approaches would include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Relational-Cultural Therapy, Psychodynamic Therapy, etc. These modalities can be effective for different types of mental health difficulties. For example, for depression and anxiety, research has found Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to be highly effective. It would also be beneficial to see what type of therapy the therapist provides, as well as determine what characteristics you are looking for in a therapist. Additionally, consider if you want to engage in individual work, couples counseling, or group therapy which all have different benefits to them.
Lastly, reflect on where you would like to engage in therapy. Therapy can be offered in person and virtually. Traditional therapy occurs in the office, but more recently teletherapy has become much more popular and accessible. Therefore, it would be important to consider which would feel like the best fit for you. If you are interested in learning more about how to choose a therapist or more about the process of therapy, please feel free to reach out to a therapist at Sillon Wellness Services!
Sillon Wellness psychologists in San Antonio are experienced in evidence-based care and specialize in helping teens and adults struggling with mood disorders, eating disorders, and trauma. You can take advantage of a complimentary 15-minute phone consultation with our San Antonio Psychologists to determine whether we are the best fit for you.
If you want to start living, really living, contact us or call us at 726.201.5284 to book your first appointment.