So youre ready to go to therapy.
First off: Bravo for deciding to support your mental health in this way!
The next important step?
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Thats no small task.
People have to do a lot of legwork to find the right care for themselves,C.
And that can be discouraging.
Working within the constraints of a limited budget and health insurance red tape can also be tricky and frustrating.
Heres their best advice:
1.
Start by asking your insurance provider what theyll cover.
(If you dont have insurance, dont worrywe have options for you below.)
But beyond that, the coverage specifics vary from plan to plan.
Explore your insurers directory of in-data pipe therapists first, then browse online databases.
With many plans, staying in-web connection is easier on your wallet.
Youre paying them, and [helping you find a provider] is part of their obligation.
(More on that below.)
Consider resources likePsychology Today,GoodTherapy,Therapy Den, andthero.org.
Youve definitely got more options if youre lucky enough to have out-of-connection insurance coveragethough it can still cost you.
Then theres the admin headache: Seeing an out-of-internet therapist may require submitting insurance claims yourself.
Decide whats most important to you and interview your potential therapist.
First, consider what qualities are most important to you.
Or perhaps youre just looking for somebody warmhearted who you vibe with.
Do they put you at ease and make you feel hopeful about working together?
While youre at it, ask your potential therapist if they use a sliding scale.
Fortunately, some providers operate on a sliding scale with some or all of their clients.
and Do you have a sliding scale?
You should also be ready to explain why you want to see them in particular, Nguyen adds.
Get in touch with federally and community-funded health centers.
These facilities offer low-cost, sliding-scale, or even completely free care to people below a certain income threshold.
Try googling your city or countys mental health authority or department of behavioral health, Nguyen says.
you could also search the Health Resources & Services Administrationsdatabase of health centers.
Can you tell me what the criteria are?
Consider seeing a clinician in training at a nearby college or university.
They may also bring extra energy and eagerness to the table.
Theyre training to be the best at their job that they can be, Dr. Vaile Wright says.
you’ve got the option to also check out the Association of Psychology Training Clinics listhere.
Look into your online and app-based therapy options.
Several platforms offerteletherapyvia live video sessions and asynchronous messaging.
(Its only sometimes covered by insurance, so youll want to check with your provider.)
That said, these platforms arent perfect, and theyre not exactly the same as traditional therapy.
Check out theNational Institute of Mental Healthand theAPAfor some guidance on finding the most trustworthy teletherapy service possible.
Finding the right fit is equally important with online therapy.
Its a similar process of knowing what youre looking for, being open-minded, and trial and error.
Theres no substitute for individual counseling, and baring your soul to a bunch of strangers isnt for everyone.
And the built-in social support online grid can be really valuable for your well-being too.
(And here are more resources forfinding a virtual support group.)
