Okay, But How Do I Actually Find a Therapist?
A ROADMAP TO FINDING THERAPY WHEN YOU HAVE INSURANCE
Therapy is one of the best tools out there to help your mental health. But the road to finding a therapist through your insurance can feel daunting, tempting you to give up on therapy before you even get there, simply because the search was too difficult.
We’d love to say that all it takes is a Google search and a phone call for you to find the therapist of your dreams, but in reality, it can be a complicated process to work through. We’re here to talk you through all the potential roadblocks and challenges. Remember, the effort you put into finding a therapist is well worth it.
And one quick note — this guide is for finding a therapist if you have insurance. If you’re not currently covered, don’t worry, there are low-cost therapy options available with no insurance needed.
Here’s a step-by-step guide to finding a therapist through your insurance:
1. Find your insurance coverage
The first step is to check what your insurance actually covers. Head to their website and find a summary of your benefits and coverage. It may be hard to pick out of all the other information, so keep an eye out for words like behavioral health, mental health, or outpatient services.
Once you’ve found where your mental health benefits are listed, read through the specifics. Do you need a doctor’s recommendation first? What will your co-pay be? All of those details are really important before you start your search.
If any of this is confusing, call, start a chat, or send an email to your insurance’s customer service. They are there to help you find your plan, understand each part of your mental health benefits, and even just to work through the confusing language in your coverage. Don’t be afraid to ask questions.
If it seems like your insurance doesn’t explicitly cover mental health, know your rights. The Federal Parity Law requires that health insurance plans cover mental health, eating disorders, and addiction care health benefits the same way they cover your physical health.
2. Ask the people around you
If you’re lucky, there may be a way to leapfrog all of these steps and get in to see a great therapist right away. If you feel comfortable, ask your doctor, friends, or family about a therapist they’ve had a positive experience with.
Getting a referral from someone you trust can be a direct line to a great therapist. Get in contact with those therapists and see if they work with your insurance and are taking new patients. If it works out, you’re one of the lucky ones!
3. Know what you’re looking for
Before you take the deep dive into your search, start thinking about what you want in a therapist. If you’re not sure where to start or what things to even consider, we’ve got you covered here. There are many different types of therapy, and every therapist’s personality and perspective is unique. Give it some thought, and don’t be afraid to try a few before settling down with the right one.
4. Make a list of options
Your insurance company’s website should have a huge list of all the therapists in your network. They can also send this to you if you call them. The problem is, that list can quickly become outdated. Therapists on that list may not be taking new patients, their phone number isn’t right, and some may not even be alive anymore (yes, that’s real). Navigating this list can be one of the most frustrating parts of finding a therapist.
It’s helpful to start using and cross-referencing other resources at this point. Try websites like Psychology Today, HelpPro or Zocdoc. You can narrow down your search based on where you live, your insurance, and some of those preferences you listed in step three. Therapists also have an opportunity to add a picture, a description of their qualifications, their approach to therapy, and a link to their website for more information.
You can also see a therapist out of network if you think you’ve found the perfect one. It’ll cost more out of pocket, but typically you can submit your bill to insurance and get them to cover part of it.
Write down a few names and contact numbers for therapists that you like – more is better here, and you’ll find out why soon.
5. Start calling around
This is the part that may take some patience. Start contacting the therapists on your list. If you call them, expect to get their voicemail. Leave your contact information and the name of your insurance provider. You can also try sending an email with this same information.
Did this for everyone on your list? Great work. But get ready for some roadblocks.
It’s possible there will be therapists who you never hear back from. Maybe they aren’t taking new patients or their contact information has changed or they don’t take your insurance anymore. There’s a number of reasons it may not work out.
Didn’t hear back from one you really liked? Give them another call or email them again. We all know how easy it is to miss an email or a call.
The important part is to not give up here. This is why it’s important to have a longer list of potential therapists.
When you do get in touch with someone, expect to have a brief conversation with them. Confirm they accept your insurance and tell them about what you’re hoping to get out of therapy.
6. Make an appointment for a consultation
Once you’ve found a therapist in your area that accepts your insurance and fits your mental health needs, make an appointment for a consultation.
Most therapists will offer this free of charge, and it generally lasts about 15 minutes, in-person or over the phone. This is a chance for you to ask about how they handle insurance billing, scheduling availability or any of the other logistics you need to figure out. But it’s also the time for you to discuss your expectations. Why are you looking for a therapist? How do they approach each session? Open up about your expectations, and figure out if they’re able to meet them.
If you don’t feel like they’re a good fit, don’t be afraid to go back to your list. The consultation is to make sure that you feel comfortable with each other.
But if you like them and you feel like they can help you improve your mental health — congratulations, you found your therapist! Here are some helpful things to know before your first session.
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Don’t get discouraged if things don’t fall into place immediately. It may take some time before you find the right therapist for you and your insurance. Once the groundwork is out of the way, you can sit back and really get the most out of each therapy session — your hard work will pay off!
Remember you can lean on your friends and family if this process feels like it’s too much for you to handle right now. When you’re struggling with your mental health while you’re trying to find support, it can feel like walking around to doctors’ offices with a broken leg. Don’t be afraid to ask for help from the people you love and have them make a few calls for you.