How to Find a Good Therapist
Hi there!
Welcome back to the MoodiNews. Every Thursday, we discuss a variety of matters related to mental health and self-improvement.
I’m so glad you’re here.
Today’s post is about a very common question that I receive: HOW DO I FIND A GOOD THERAPIST?
In addressing this question, my hope is to demystify the world of mental health care as much as possible—especially for beginners—and make it less intimidating (and therefore more accessible) for anyone who wishes to learn more.
Over the next four weeks, we will discuss this question in further detail:*
Week 1 – We will discuss the distinction between the different types of providers that offer mental health services.
Week 2 – We will break down the different types of providers that offer therapy specifically.
Week 3 – We will discuss how to find a therapist near you (and why location matters).
Week 4 – We will cover some suggestions for finding a good therapist who might actually be of help.
Today’s post (week 1) will discuss how to distinguish between the different types of providers that offer mental health services:
Let’s start with a basic overview of what’s out there.
Generally speaking, there are two ‘types’ of mental health care services—inpatient and outpatient. Inpatient treatment involves a person staying overnight, typically at a hospital or rehabilitation facility, and is designed to offer round-the-clock care to its patients. Outpatient treatment encompasses everything else—from someone receiving sporadic therapy a few times a year, to someone attending a partial-hospitalization program (where they do not sleep over but spend most of their day in treatment).
There are many sources of mental health care—some are informal (like community support groups, AA, etc.), and some are professional. The most common clinical (or formalized, professional) interventions are noted below, and can be found at both the inpatient and outpatient level:
1) Psychotherapy – This typically involves talking to a therapist one-on-one (but can also be done with couples, families, or in groups), and the frequency of visits typically depends on the severity of a client’s condition. Psychotherapy is the most common form of mental health care alongside psychotropic medication (next).
2) Psychotropic Medication – Involves the prescription of psychotropic medications (psychoactive agents) that are intended to improve mental functioning. The practice of prescribing psychotropic medication is often referred to as psychiatry.
3) Psychological Testing – Psychological testing is a more specialized form of care, and is typically short-term. It involves completing a very detailed and comprehensive evaluation of an individual in order to diagnose for things like intellectual disabilities, Autism, ADHD, and personality disorders. (Psychological testing can also be done to assess for more common diagnoses, like anxiety and depression, but is not usually necessary in order for people to start therapy. Psychological tests can only be conducted by a doctorate-level psychologist (PhD/PsyD), so they are often expensive to complete and have very long waiting lists.)
When identifying which type of mental health care is right for you, it is important to know that not all providers offer the same service(s):
For instance, providers who prescribe psychotropic medication must be either a medical doctor (MD or DO) or a doctorate-level nurse practitioner (ARNP or PMHNP). Therefore, many providers who offer therapy are not qualified to also prescribe medications (and, conversely, many providers who prescribe medications do not offer therapy, even though psychiatrists and NPs are qualified to do so).
(Side note: It is common nowadays for people to receive psychotropic medication prescriptions through their primary care physician (MD). However, it is still considered best practice to be diagnosed and treated for any major mental health concerns by a specialist.)
If you’ve made it this far—nice job!
Oftentimes, mental health information can be overwhelming and confusing for people—and if that’s the case for you, you are not alone. (It took me years to understand it all myself, and I’m still learning, even with several years of clinical experience now under my belt).
Hang in there.
Next week, we will discuss in further detail the various types of providers who offer therapy specifically. As part of that discussion, I will do my best to illustrate how to interpret a therapist’s qualifications based on the credentials that come after their name.
*Please note - None of the ideas discussed in this series are intended to substitute for a clinical referral or replace the recommendations of a doctor/healthcare provider who knows you personally. The ideas discussed herein are based solely off of my own experience as a clinician and client, and other people may have differing opinions about what good therapy looks like—that’s okay.