How to find a therapist in the Bay Area
Finding a therapist, counselor, or psychologist in Los Gatos
I get it. Once you’ve finally decided that now is the time to find a therapist you’re hit with another wave of overwhelm after Googling, “therapist Los Gatos.” You see the map with a bunch of options and click on a few links. Then, you realize the Google listings don’t have much information to make a real decision. So, you decide you’re going to search through one of those therapist directories. A few therapist profiles sound promising but you’re still not sure how to choose which therapist is right for you.
I want to help you find a therapist in Los Gatos
Here are 6 tips to help you find a therapist, counselor or psychologist that is the right fit for you and your needs.
Who’s going to therapy? Sometimes people go to therapy to work on themselves and individual therapy sessions are good enough. However, there are times when challenges come up when couples, family, or parent-child therapy could be more appropriate for one’s needs. Knowing who will be participating can aid in your search for therapists who specialize in these different types of therapy.
Ask a friend or family member if they know of any therapists. You may be surprised to find out that someone you know is already working with a therapist or that a family member knows someone they can refer. The COVID-19 pandemic has put a spotlight on mental health and people are more aware than ever about the benefits of learning how to deal with feelings. Chances are that if a friend or family knows of a Bay Area therapist they might be able to give you more insight about them, how they work, and if they would work well with you even before you start your research.
Pay attention to where the therapist is licensed. In your search you may notice that therapists have different types of licenses - Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor, Licensed Clinical Psychologist, etc. The type of license and where they are licensed can determine where they are legally able to provide services. For example, I’m a California licensed therapist and I can only work with clients who are currently living in my state.
Take advantage of the free consultations most therapists offer. Sometimes you have to fill out a contact form or you might be able to directly schedule an appointment time through a client portal. Either way, find a time that works for you, reach out to schedule that time and set a reminder on your phone. You can get your questions answered and get a sense of the connection you have just by speaking with a therapist over the phone and hearing their voice. You’ll be doing plenty of talking in therapy so the free initial consultation is a great place to get a feel for how you vibe with this person.
Consider telehealth. During lockdowns and shelter-in-place many people didn’t have a choice about whether they saw their therapist in person or not. Most therapists are licensed by state so if you’re living in Long Beach, CA but you find a therapist in San Jose, CA that you see yourself working with, schedule that free consultation and ask if this is an option for you. This option increases the number of therapists you might consider. This format may not be a good fit for everyone or your specific needs but it is an option.
Decide if you’ll pay out of pocket or use your medical insurance. If you decide to use your medical insurance there are a few more things to consider. For example, you’ll want to find out if your insurance covers “outpatient psychotherapy services” (ie. individual, couples, family therapy) and how that coverage works (how many sessions are approved per year, co-pays, deductibles that have to be met before your insurance kicks in, etc). If your insurance does cover therapy, you will only be able to choose your therapist from the insurance’s pre-approved list of providers. If you choose to pay out of pocket, the cost per session is straightforward and you have the freedom to choose which therapist you partner with in getting the support you need.
A free therapy consultation in Los Gatos
I hope these 6 tips help you find the right therapist in Los Gatos. If you’re still confused about how to find a therapist that’s a good fit for you, feel free to call me at (408) 884-6328 for a free 15-minute phone consultation. I’d be more than happy to hear about what’s going on and point you in the right direction.
Keywords: therapist in Los Gatos, therapist Bay Area, San Jose psychotherapy, Asian therapist, BIPOC therapist.
