How to Choose a Therapist: A Psychologist’s Guide to the Right Fit
So you’ve made the decision to start therapy. Now what?! There are many different types of therapists, specializing in many different areas, from different backgrounds with very different personalities and styles of working. It can get overwhelming! Given that this is a big decision, you want to make sure you choose the right person for your needs. In this post, I will guide you through choosing a psychologist in Rochester, NY and throughout New York State.
Do I Need a Psychologist or a Therapist?
As you are searching for a therapist, you will start to see lots of different credentials and acronyms..
“Therapist” is an umbrella term for any licensed professional that is qualified to provide mental health services. In many cases, the credentials may matter less than the provider's experience and the comfort level you feel with the person.
A “psychologist” is a specific type of therapist that has doctoral level training (PhD or PsyD). While some psychologists may focus on diagnostic testing, many practice as general therapists focusing on talk therapy for issues like anxiety, depression, life stress, and trauma.
Key Factors to Consider When Choosing a Psychologist
Areas of Specialization and Expertise
Clarifying your personal goals is a helpful first step. For example, if you want to work on issues related to childhood trauma, you would want to work with someone who has experience in trauma-informed care. You will want to ask about the provider's history and experience treating your particular concern.
Therapeutic Approach
Some people go into the search for a therapist looking for a specific type of therapy, while others don’t have a preference. Reviewing the therapies a provider offers can provide a sense of what sessions will look like.
One thing that can be important is to consider is if the treatment is “evidence-based”, meaning that there are research studies that support its effectiveness. If you are going to put all this time and effort into the process, it makes sense to do so with a therapy that has been studied and found to be effective.
Identity and Cultural Preferences
It is important to have a counselor that you feel understands your background. This might involve seeking a counselor with a specific gender, cultural background, or religion, among other areas of importance.
Of course it doesn’t have to be the case that you work with a therapist who is the same as you in any or all areas. Therapists are trained to work with people from a wide variety of backgrounds. You might want to ask a therapist from a different background how they approach their work with people of different backgrounds.
The Logistics: Cost, Insurance, Location
Insurance Networks
Often one of the most important questions for people is understandably, “Is this provider in-network with my insurance?”. It does not make sense to start building a relationship with someone who you will not be able to continue with due to finances.
If a therapist is out-of-network, you can inquire about a “superbill”. This means that you would pay out of pocket and submit the bill to your insurance company for potential reimbursement. Just make sure to contact your insurance company first and make sure they will reimburse for out-of-network providers.
Out of Pocket/Sliding Fee Scales
Maybe you don’t have insurance or have decided for any number of reasons that you don’t want to use your insurance. In these cases, you just need to find out the therapist's rate and length of session.
If you can’t or don’t want to use insurance, but are struggling with the rates, you could ask if they offer a sliding fee scale, which just means that they might be willing to adjust their rate to meet your specific financial situation.
Telehealth versus In-Person Visits
You will find that some therapists offer in-person sessions, some offer virtual sessions, and some offer both. It is important to consider whether you have a preference and weigh the pros and cons of virtual sessions versus in-person sessions.
I offer all virtual sessions, and generally find that people appreciate the convenience of meeting this way. Even people who might be unsure about it at first generally find that it works well for them.
How to Find Potential Therapists
Step 1: One of the easiest ways to find potential therapists is on one of the reputable search platforms. Not all therapists are on these platforms, but many are. One example of this is Psychology Today. Check out my Psychology Today profile as an example of a professional directory listing.
Step 2: While most platforms verify the therapist’s credentials, the New York State licensing board is a way to confirm that that a provider is in good standing.
Step 3: Many therapists offer free, brief phone consultations. I highly recommend this before committing to a full session just to start to get a sense of the person and if you will be a good fit.
Evaluating the “Therapeutic Alliance”
Most important to consider is, do you feel comfortable with this person? Do you feel safe? Do you feel heard? A therapist could have tons of credentials and experience, but if you don’t feel comfortable it’s going to be very hard to get as much out of the process. I typically encourage people to give it a couple of sessions because it sometimes takes some time to warm up to people in a situation like this, but you also have to honor what feels right and comfortable to you.
We’ve reviewed a lot here. However, this is going to be an important relationship in your life, that will be addressing difficult experiences, and hopefully helping you reach very important goals. Therefore, it is worth the time and effort to find the right fit for you.
For further questions, or to explore virtual therapy options in New York, reach out to me through my Contact Page to schedule a consultation.
Author Bio:
As a background, Dr. Amy Rodrigues is a licensed clinical psychologist located in Rochester, NY offering virtual therapy throughout all of New York State. She has 15 years of specializing in issues such as anxiety, depression, PTSD/trauma, life stress, and relationship struggles. She earned her doctorate in psychology from the University of Rochester and focuses in combining evidence-based approaches with compassionate, person-centered care.
View more about her or her professional credentials.
Disclaimer: The information provided on this blog is for educational purposes only and should not be treated as medical, psychiatric, or psychological advice. This content does not establish a therapist-client relationship. If you are experiencing a mental health crisis or emergency, please call or text 988 (in the US/Canada) or go to the nearest emergency room.
