4 Easy Ways to Find a Therapist Near You

1.Visit PsychologyToday.com

Psychology Today is one of the leading internet resources for finding a therapist near you. They certify that all the therapists listed are licensed (or pre-licensed with a supervisor) and are in good standing with DORA (The Department of Regulatory Agencies, which is here in Colorado, or whatever Licensing board you have in your state). The biggest downfall I have seen with PsychologyToday is there doesn’t seem to be much consistency in their algorithm, so be sure to check out several pages before deciding who is the best fit for you.

2. Visit GoodTherapy.org

Good Therapy is not as popular at Psychology Today, however, it has a smaller list of therapists to choose from (albeit, still vast). It depends on the location but the site doesn’t get as much traction, which can work in your favor! It means you have less therapists to sort through.

3. Ask a friend about their personal therapist

This is by far the best way to find a therapist. If you have people in your life who are struggling with anything from anxiety, grief, depression, self-esteem issues, trauma, then you definitely want to get their opinion on their therapist. Ask lots of questions about the type of therapist they see and figure out if that seems to fit what you may want. Also, it’s okay if you don’t know what you want. Most therapists offer a free consultation so you can get a feel for how they are in session. 

For example, I am the type of therapist who is pretty direct. Which means I typically work well with men (who like a more direct approach) and others who want clear guidance. A lot of clients come to me and complain about therapists who are “just really good listeners, but that’s it.” However, there are times in life when you simply just want someone to talk to that can give you feedback on what they hear but without telling you what to do. You have to figure out for yourself what works best.

But don’t worry, you don’t HAVE to know before your first session. You just gotta show up and see what works for you, then communicate that to your therapist. I know I love when my clients give me feedback about how I can show up better for THEM. It’s about their personal growth and what works for one client may not work for another.

4. Avoid online therapy companies

As someone who personally sees her own therapist (Shoutout to Jason Gruhl!), I have fired many therapists in my personal journey. Though I have had a couple of really great ones, the worst ones I found were through online therapy companies. At one point, I had a therapist FALL ASLEEP during our virtual session. I had no idea what to do. I’ve heard similar feedback from clients and friends who found burned out therapists on the other end of the video. Although this will not cover all the therapists on those platforms, I’d still shy away from that. Plus, in person therapy is WAY better, IMO.

For more information about what type of therapist to look for, check out my blog Different Types of Therapy and What’s the Difference Between Therapist, Psychologist, and Psychiatrist?