New to therapy?
Ivy Griffin
My favorite part of being a therapist is the transformation that I am privileged to witness in each of my clients. The change or growth doesn’t always occur in a positive direction--sometimes people really don’t want to change--but they need support anyway and deserve it. I have so much respect for the therapeutic process that I really invest myself in determining if I am capable of caring for the specific mental health needs of each potential client.
Therapists should be good not just convenient. Looking for a therapist might take a little bit of time, but it’s definitely worth it. You may even need to speak with several therapists before you find someone who can work well with you and meet your needs appropriately.
Here are some tips when looking for a therapist:
Will you pay out of pocket or use insurance? - If you decide to use insurance a good idea is to call your insurance provider and ask for a list of providers who are currently taking new clients, then you can look up these providers via their License number or name on the California BBS website to see if they have ever had any complaints made against them and to ensure their license is in good standing. You can also research their online presence. If you are paying out of pocket you can speak with the therapist about their fee, and some therapists offer a sliding fee scale.
Availability - It seems important to me when scheduling with my clients to make it very clear that I have limited availability. I find it disrupts my clients’ progress when there are abrupt changes with scheduling - sometimes it’s unavoidable, but can usually be prevented when we confirm they will be able to work with the session times I can offer.
Don’t settle - You develop a relationship with your therapist that is based on trust, honesty, and feeling seen, heard, and understood. It is very important that you feel comfortable with this person. If you find that it isn’t a good fit then you can let the therapist know and ask for a referral. My colleagues and I are very aware that we are not going to be a good fit for every single person we encounter!
Phone consult first - I rarely, if ever, schedule a session with someone without doing a phone consultation first. You can usually call and ask if they offer a free phone consultation. It will take about 20 minutes, and during this time you can ask various questions about the therapist, but also notice if they are asking you specific questions about what you are needing help with. You will want to end that phone call knowing a few things - fees (how much you will pay or if your insurance will cover the sessions), scheduling (the therapist’s availability on a regular basis), goals (what you will address during therapy), and your comfort level with the therapist.
Can they help you? - A good therapist will determine in the phone consult if they are competent to work with you. I am very competent to work with severe depression, anxiety, and substance abuse issues, but I am not competent in the area of sex addiction or hoarding. I would refer out for the latter two if a client wanted to focus on those issues.
Keep these tips in mind when searching for a new therapist, and if you need any support in finding a good fit, just contact us for a free phone consultation!
I wish you all the best on your wellness journey!!
Take care,
Seija
Seija Zimmerman, LMFT #106164
Thrive Therapy & Counseling
1614 X St., Suite A
Sacramento, CA 95818
916-287-3430