{"id":2134,"date":"2016-12-18T13:45:26","date_gmt":"2016-12-18T21:45:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.jaeminyi.com\/?p=2134"},"modified":"2018-10-10T09:32:33","modified_gmt":"2018-10-10T17:32:33","slug":"find-an-awesome-therapist","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jaeminyi.com\/find-an-awesome-therapist\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Find an Awesome Therapist"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>So, you already know that I think everyone and their mom should <a href=\"https:\/\/jaeminyi.com\/therapist\/\">see a therapist<\/a>. <\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s self-growth on steroids! I\u2019d recommend it to EVERYBODY.<\/p>\n<p>But then the question becomes, \u201cHOW do I find a therapist? A badass, awesome one?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>And unfortunately, that\u2019s a more difficult question to answer. <\/p>\n<p>Finding an awesome therapist is more complicated than finding an awesome mechanic. It\u2019s not just about technical skill and experience &#8211; it\u2019s about finding someone who JIBES with you.<\/p>\n<p>Just like dating, it\u2019s about finding the right fit. The right chemistry. Someone you click with. Someone who gets you.<\/p>\n<p>And just like dating\u2026it may take a few tries to find the right match.<\/p>\n<p>But fear not, the search process is not as scary as it seems! To make it easier, I\u2019ve broken it down into 8 simple steps.<\/p>\n<p>Just remember, the most important thing is to simply START. Take action.<\/p>\n<p>If you care about living a happier, healthier, more connected life &#8211; it\u2019s 100% worth taking the time to do this.<\/p>\n<p>So without further ado, here\u2019s how you find an awesome therapist:<\/p>\n<h2>1) Determine what your budget is.<\/h2>\n<p>The first step is to figure out how much you\u2019re willing to pay. This can help filter out a lot of options.<\/p>\n<p>Look, therapy can be expensive. <\/p>\n<p>The average cost is around $75-175 for an hourlong session. And for best results, it\u2019s recommended you see someone regularly (once a week or so).<\/p>\n<p>Not cheap. But totally worth it.<\/p>\n<p>If you can\u2019t afford someone in the $75-175 range, don\u2019t worry! There are still great options out there.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Check out <a href=\"http:\/\/www.opencounseling.com\/\">OpenCounseling.com<\/a> to find free and low cost counseling in your area (US only).<\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<li>See if your health insurance covers therapy and find a therapist covered by them. (However a lot of great ones aren\u2019t covered by insurance and I\u2019ve found it totally worth paying out-of-pocket.)<\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<li>Many therapists will offer a sliding scale for people who are struggling financially. Always ask!<\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<li>Lindsay P. suggested, \u201cTry finding a local Master&#39;s student program where the student gets their clinical hours in for their licensure (and is supervised!) and you get discounted or free legitimate therapy sessions.\u201d<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<p>(For those in the San Francisco \/ Bay Area, I\u2019ve heard great things about <a href=\"http:\/\/www.ciis.edu\/counseling-and-acupuncture-clinics\">CIIS\u2019 Counseling Clinics<\/a> which use the above method to provide super affordable therapy. I&#8217;ve also heard great things about the <a href=\"https:\/\/gratefulhearttherapy.org\/\">Grateful Heart Holistic Therapy Center<\/a>.)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>2) Determine if you have any specific needs.<\/h2>\n<p>Once you got your budget, now it\u2019s time to figure out if there\u2019s anything in particular you\u2019re looking for.<\/p>\n<p>Are you looking to specifically work through childhood issues? Relationship\/attachment issues? Sexual issues? If so, it can be helpful to work with someone who specializes in these areas. (But any good therapist can help you make progress in all the above.)<\/p>\n<p>Would you feel more comfortable working with a specific gender? Someone young or old? Someone who\u2019s LGBTQ friendly or speaks your native language?<\/p>\n<p>Is there a type of therapy you\u2019d prefer? Somatic therapy (less talk, more body-based)? Cognitive Behavioral Therapy? Therapy with a spiritual\/transpersonal element?<span title='I currently prefer methods of therapy that are less traditional and a bit more out there, such as Internal Family Systems therapy. I&#8217;ve personally felt that they help heal issues on a deeper level than traditional talk therapy, but to each their own. My friend Andrea prefers CBT due to it\u2019s empirical support but is currently seeing someone who\u2019s proficient in many modalities, so they can use whatever fits the situation best.' class='inline-footnote'>1<span class='footnoteContent' style='display:none;'>I currently prefer methods of therapy that are less traditional and a bit more out there, such as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.selfleadership.org\/\">Internal Family Systems<\/a> therapy. I&#8217;ve personally felt that they help heal issues on a deeper level than traditional talk therapy, but to each their own. My friend Andrea prefers CBT due to it\u2019s empirical support but is currently seeing someone who\u2019s proficient in many modalities, so they can use whatever fits the situation best.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>If you feel strongly about any of the above, it can help narrow down your options and make you feel more comfortable in your sessions.<\/p>\n<p>But if not, it\u2019s all good! None of these may matter for your situation. And if they do, you\u2019ll find out after a few sessions and have more information to make decisions going forward.<\/p>\n<h2>3) Ask your friends and family for references.<\/h2>\n<p>If you know someone who\u2019s seeing a therapist and having awesome results, it can be helpful to ask them for a recommendation.<\/p>\n<p>However just because they\u2019re a great fit for your friend, doesn\u2019t mean they\u2019ll be right for you. But it\u2019s a good place to start and definitely worth looking into.<\/p>\n<p>Also if you know other therapists, it can be helpful to ask them for suggestions as well. They often know who\u2019s running a great practice.<\/p>\n<h2>4) Search online.<\/h2>\n<p>I personally think the internet is the best place to look for a therapist.<\/p>\n<p>Check sites like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.yelp.com\/\">Yelp<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/\">Zocdoc<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/\">GoodTherapy<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.psychologytoday.com\/\">PsychologyToday<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Yelp is my personal favorite because it has reviews which are SUPER helpful. And the reviewers tend to be younger and closer to my demographic.<\/p>\n<p>Search around your area for terms like \u201ctherapist\u201d, \u201cpsychotherapist\u201d, or \u201cMFT\u201d. Or if you\u2019re looking for something specific, plug that in and see what comes up.<\/p>\n<p>Browse around and click on therapists who interest you. View their profiles, check out their websites, read their reviews.<\/p>\n<p>When you find someone who seems cool, who could be a \u201cmaybe\u201d, add them to a text document of \u201cpotential therapists\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>Speaking of which\u2026<\/p>\n<h2>5) Make a list of therapists that resonate with you.<\/h2>\n<p>As you\u2019re searching online and taking in recommendations, open up a document and start making a list of potential therapists.<\/p>\n<p>Anyone who you think could have potential, add them to the list!<\/p>\n<p>It could be for any reason. Like the therapists\u2019 photo? Did something in their profile resonate with you? Did a review match your particular situation?<\/p>\n<p>Add them!<\/p>\n<p>During this process, I highly recommend you try to FEEL rather than THINK your way through these selections.<\/p>\n<p>Trust your gut. If something draws you towards a particular therapist, add them to the list.<\/p>\n<p>Then once you have a bunch of therapists on your list, sort through them and pick your Top 5. <\/p>\n<p>Got it? Now it\u2019s time to make contact!<\/p>\n<h2>6) Schedule free 15 minute consultations with your favorites.<\/h2>\n<p>So go through your Top 5 picks and send each one a quick email.<\/p>\n<p>Quickly introduce yourself, what you\u2019re looking to explore or work on, and then ask any questions you might have about how they work (i.e. What is your approach like? What should I expect in a session?)<\/p>\n<p>Protip: write this email once and then just copy and paste for the others. Easy!<\/p>\n<p>Also ask how much they charge (most don\u2019t list their prices online), if they\u2019re covered by insurance, and if they offer a free consultation (most do).<\/p>\n<p>If the price they respond with is too high, mention that your financial situation is tight and ask if they offer a sliding scale. (And if still too high, ask them for a recommendation in your price range.)<\/p>\n<p>If all sounds good and you\u2019re still interested, schedule a free consultation with them! <\/p>\n<p>Even if it\u2019s just a 15 min. phone consultation, this can be super helpful in feeling out whether it\u2019d be a good fit.<\/p>\n<p>Ask questions about how they work and any topics you\u2019d like to explore with them, but mostly pay attention to how you FEEL while talking to them.<\/p>\n<p>After you hang up, sit and take a moment. Feel into your experience. Do you feel better? Inspired? Excited? Or tired? Deflated? Unsure?<\/p>\n<p><b>Most importantly, ask yourself this question: Do you feel like they can help you?<\/b><\/p>\n<p>If the answer is no, then keep looking.<\/p>\n<p>The biggest factor in effective therapy is client readiness. You need to be ready, willing, and open to change.<\/p>\n<p>And for that to happen, you NEED to work with someone that you feel can help you, for whatever reason. <\/p>\n<h2>7) Schedule a session with the one you vibed with the most!<\/h2>\n<p>After you\u2019ve had a few consultations, you should have a good feel for which ones you vibed with the most.<\/p>\n<p>Choose your favorite and schedule a session with them!<\/p>\n<p>Now hopefully you got lucky and found the right therapist straight away. But what if you\u2019re not sure?<\/p>\n<p>In my opinion, sessions should feel less like being analyzed by a clinical doctor and more like having real talk with a trusted friend.<\/p>\n<p>Go for a few sessions and pay close attention to how you feel during and after.<\/p>\n<p>Do you feel better after the session than before?<\/p>\n<p>Do you still feel like this person can help you?<\/p>\n<p>Do you feel seen? Understood? Like this person gets you?<\/p>\n<p>If the answer to those questions consistently becomes \u201cno\u201d, then it may be time to try another therapist. Don\u2019t stress about this, it\u2019s completely normal! <\/p>\n<p>Many people have to go through a few to find the right fit for them. And it\u2019s not a waste of time at all! <\/p>\n<p>Each session you undergo &#8211; even with an imperfect fit &#8211; is still an hour you spent exploring your inner world and figuring out what you need and don\u2019t need.<\/p>\n<p>Even the \u201cwrong\u201d steps are helping you grow. So don\u2019t be afraid to take them.<\/p>\n<p>Any step forward is still a step forward. Keep moving.<\/p>\n<h2>8) Be as open and willing as possible.<\/h2>\n<p>Last thing: remember that it\u2019s not just about the therapist, it\u2019s about YOU.<\/p>\n<p>As mentioned earlier, <b>the biggest factor in effective therapy is client readiness.<\/b><\/p>\n<p>So if you really want to grow and heal &#8211; and you\u2019re willing to spend time and money on this &#8211; then LEAN IN as much as you can!<\/p>\n<p>Challenge yourself to push your edges. To be more vulnerable, more open, more willing.<\/p>\n<p>To share things that you\u2019ve been scared to.<\/p>\n<p>To try new things, even if they feel silly.<\/p>\n<p><b>A therapist can only take you as far as you\u2019re willing to go yourself.<\/b><\/p>\n<p>So dive in.<\/p>\n<p>But also, be gentle on yourself.<\/p>\n<p>The road to growth and healing can be a long and winding one. Changes often won\u2019t come in huge breakthroughs, but in small shifts, barely perceptible from week to week.<\/p>\n<p>But as long as you\u2019re continuing to make progress, learning more, and feeling better\u2026keep going.<\/p>\n<p>Eventually, you\u2019ll look back and be astounded at how far you\u2019ve come.<\/p>\n<p>And you\u2019ll be so glad you embarked on this journey in the first place.<\/p>\n<p>But that journey ain\u2019t gonna start itself. <\/p>\n<p>So get your ass in gear. And take the first steps towards investing in yourself.<\/p>\n<p>You\u2019re gonna like who you become. I guarantee it.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>So, you already know that I think everyone and their mom should <a href=\"https:\/\/jaeminyi.com\/therapist\/\">see a therapist<\/a>. <\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s self-growth on steroids! I\u2019d recommend it to EVERYBODY.<\/p>\n<p>But then the question becomes, \u201cHOW do I find a therapist? A badass, awesome one?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>And unfortunately, that\u2019s a more difficult question to answer. <\/p>\n<p>Finding an awesome therapist is more complicated than finding an awesome mechanic. It\u2019s not just about technical skill and experience &#8211; it\u2019s about finding someone who JIBES with you.<\/p>\n<p>Just like dating, it\u2019s about finding the right fit. The right chemistry. Someone you click with. Someone who gets you.<\/p>\n<p>And just like dating\u2026it may take a few tries to find the right match.<\/p>\n<p>But fear not, the search process is not as scary as it seems! To make it easier, I\u2019ve broken it down into 8 simple steps.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2148,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"spay_email":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/jaeminyi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/find-a-therapist.jpg?fit=1024%2C559&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p79mZF-yq","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jaeminyi.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2134"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jaeminyi.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jaeminyi.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jaeminyi.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jaeminyi.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2134"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.jaeminyi.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2134\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2558,"href":"https:\/\/www.jaeminyi.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2134\/revisions\/2558"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jaeminyi.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2148"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jaeminyi.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2134"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jaeminyi.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2134"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jaeminyi.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2134"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}