How to find a therapist in Frisco: Part II
Finding a therapist in Frisco during COVID: Part II
You are looking for a therapist, but are overwhelmed by the number of options. Where do you even start? It may feel a bit like throwing a dart in the dark and hoping you hit the dartboard.
You are likely already feeling a lot of anxiety about the process.
I totally get that.
I want to help you find a therapist in Frisco
In my previous blog post, I talked about trying to figure out what type of therapist you need.
Recently, I’ve helped several friends through the process of finding a therapist. I’ve realized that once you determine what type of therapist, you can narrow your search by thinking about factors that would make therapy easier and more comfortable for you.
Considering what will make therapy logistically feasible for you (such as insurance, cost, telehealth, location, scheduling, therapist’s availability) can make the process of finding a therapist much easier.
Logistical considerations:
Insurance or private pay:
Do you need to use insurance to cover therapy? Does your insurance cover mental health? Have you met your deductible? These are all important things to consider, as insurance companies may have a separate deductible for mental health services. How important is it for you to use insurance when seeing a therapist? Many therapists don’t take insurance, but may be considered “Out of Network”, which means you would pay the therapist up front, but could submit “super bills” to your insurance company to seek reimbursement on your own.
Many therapists don’t accept insurance because the insurance companies won’t pay them what they are worth. Most couples counselors don’t accept insurance—see the reasons I don’t accept insurance here.
Cost:
Can you afford to pay out of pocket for therapy right now? If you were to see a therapist weekly for several months to a year, how much of a strain would that put on your finances? If finances are your biggest concern, there are clinics that offer low cost or sliding fee scale appointments, frequently provided by therapists in training under supervision. In the case of therapy, the adage is somewhat true—you get what you pay for. Depending on your area, expect to pay $100-200 per session for an experienced and talented therapist.
It’s important to remember that although therapy is expensive, there are many costs associated with NOT pursuing therapy that may be more expensive in the long run. For instance, couples counseling is definitely less expensive than divorce. Addressing mental health concerns may be more expensive up front, but is like any other kind of preventative medicine and will save you financially in the long run.
Telehealth or in person?
Would you prefer to see a therapist in person or through telehealth? In the past, therapy has typically been done in person. Due to COVID, more therapist are offering teletherapy appointments than ever before. Most of my clients LOVE the convenience of telehealth. Most don’t feel that the difference between in person and telehealth is much different, as long as you have good computer equipment that allows you to see and hear the therapist clearly, and them to hear and see you easily. Read more about telehealth considerations here.
Location:
One benefit of telehealth is that your geographical search for a therapist can extend to your entire state. If you are looking for something very specialized this may be helpful, but can be overwhelming if you are already overwhelmed by the number of options. Think about if you will ever want to see a therapist in person rather than telehealth, and if so, how far are you willing to drive on a weekly basis to see a therapist in person?
Scheduling/Therapists availability:
When are you able to see a therapist? And what is their availability? Many therapists work a more traditional 9-5 schedule, while some offer evening or weekend hours. These weekend or evening hours may be difficult to come by, but should be an important part of your search if those are truly the only times you are able to see a therapist. It’s also important to keep in mind when you call or email therapists that they may not be taking on new clients at this time. Finding a therapist can definitely be a challenge. Knowing the answers to the above questions will help you narrow your search, and (hopefully) make the next step easier!
Finding a therapist can definitely be a challenge. Knowing the answers to the above questions will help you narrow your search, and (hopefully) make the next step easier!
Using Psychology Today
Whether you use Google for a more general search, or use a therapist finder such as Psychology today, most of the logistic information about therapists is fairly easy to find. Many therapists have an individual website, or can be searched on Psychology Today. Location is the first search parameter you would use, with the option to add additional qualifiers like insurance, or therapist characteristics we will discuss in part 3. Psychology Today profiles also include general information on cost, if they are providing telehealth, and occasionally include their availability (but this is more likely to be found on their website), which you can also access through Psychology Today.
In my next blog post, I’ll talk about the other factors that are important when looking for a therapist, specifically factors that could influence how comfortable you are to open up to a therapist.
A free therapy consultation in Frisco
I hope this helps you find a therapist in Frisco. If you are still feeling stuck, feel free to call me at 469-278-4380 for a free 15-minute consultation. I’d be happy to hear about what’s happening and help direct you to the right person!
If you are looking for more help in your relationships, or with having a more fulfilling sex life, you can read more about how I can help here. I love helping couples reconnect and increase their intimacy—in and out of the bedroom!