How to Find a Therapist

Working with a trained clinician is often a key part of healing from sexual abuse, but finding a therapist can feel overwhelming. Here are five steps you can follow to find a therapist who is the right fit for you.

DO SOME RESEARCH

See what therapists are near you, who your insurance covers, and which ones are accepting new patients. This may take some time, but it will be worth it in the long run. Also, consider whether you have a preference on the gender of your therapist.

CALL

When you’ve narrowed your list down to four or five therapists, call their office and ask if you can have a short informal meeting to see if you would feel comfortable working with them. Many therapists will be willing to meet with you briefly either in person or over the phone so that you can decide if they are a good fit for you.

CONSIDER WHAT YOU WANT

Take some time before your meeting to decide what you want to get out of therapy. What do you want to address first? What are you not quite ready to discuss?

ASK QUESTIONS

When you meet with the therapist don’t be afraid to ask questions. Consider asking things like:

What’s your training and background?

Do you specialize in anything particular?

Do you have a background in working with survivors of sexual abuse?

Are you a practitioner of EMDR? If so how long have you been practicing this form of therapy?

The therapist’s will help you get to know them a little better and find out if they have the knowledge and traits that are most important to you.

TRUST YOUR INTUITION

You’ll be able to tell pretty quickly if this therapist is someone you can talk to about your trauma. If they don’t seem like a fit for you, then find someone else. The most important thing is finding someone you’re comfortable with who can be honest with you and who has the knowledge to help you.

Talk therapy can be an important step in your healing journey, but only if you have a therapist who is a good match for you, who you can trust. Too often survivors won’t get the full benefit of talk therapy simply because they can’t open up to their therapist. Don’t be afraid to find someone else who you CAN talk to. You’re worth it.