Finding a therapist, counselor, or psychologist in Austin

As the population in Austin, TX continues to grow at an exponential pace, so does the access to resources. This growth is great, but can be overwhelming. Try searching “therapist in Austin, TX” and you will get over 92 million results. If you are looking for a life coach, counselor, therapist or psychologist - I’d like to help you find someone who will fit your needs.

I want to help you find a therapist in Austin

I understand what it is like to reach the stage where you know you need someone to talk to, but just don’t know where to start. Once you do start, 92 million results pop up. What is the best tactic to find the helper you need? Should you go down the list and call everyone in a 20 mile radius? Should you read every bio and hope that the one person that seems like they might be a good fit is open to new clients?

Here are a couple of tips from a therapist that will help you find the helper you need in a timely manner.

Tip #1: Think about who you might feel most comfortable working with.

The best predictor of a successful outcome in therapy is the strength of the relationship between the client and therapist. With this in mind, it is important to take your time and think about what qualities are important to you. Would you feel more comfortable talking with a male, female or non-binary person? Does age matter to you? Some therapist affiliate with certain religions, which would also narrow down the field of options.

Tip #2: Ask someone you trust

Check in with friends or family members who have had good experiences in therapy. Their therapist might not be the best fit for you and your situation, but that therapist will likely have trusted colleagues that they will refer you to that specialize in your specific area of need. My practice specializes in maternal mental health but I know awesome therapists that work with couples and kids and would be happy to get you connected to them.

Tip #3: Decide what it is you need from your therapist

“Therapist” is a general category for a person who provides mental health services, but each type of therapists brings something different to the table.

Psychiatrists are medical doctors who specialize in diagnosis and treating psychiatric illnesses and are licensed to prescribe medication. They are also trained in psychotherapy (or talk therapy). If your situation requires medication, you will need to see a doctor. Some primary care physicians are comfortable treating mental health disorders, but they will likely refer you on to a psychiatrist for medication management.

Psychologists have a PhD (or PsyD) and are experts in psychology. They are trained in counseling and psychological testing. Psychologist cannot prescribe medication, but they can refer you to a psychiatrist if they determine medication would help your particular situation.

In Texas, there are several licenses that allow mental health providers to practice independently such as Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSW), Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFT) and Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC). All of these types of therapists are required to have a Master’s degree in a related field as well as a certain number of supervision/experience hours. Most of these helping professionals specialize in a certain area of mental health such as anxiety, depression, couples/families, trauma, and grief and loss, just to name a few. Depending on their specialization they may also have training that is specifically used to treat their area of specialization. For example, an LCSW that specializes in anxiety might be certified in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.

Life Coaches, are a separate group of helping professionals and might be what you need depending on your goals. If you are looking to improve your life satisfaction and are forward focused, a life coach could be a good fit for you.

Tip #4: Check online directories

GoodTherapy.com, TherapyDen.com and PsychologyToday.com are all leading directories that can help you find a therapist that fits your needs. You can filter by location, pricing, areas of specialization, types of services, insurance, gender, age group of clients served, availability, accessibility, types of therapy offered and more.

Also, if you have insurance, contact your insurance provider and ask what your coverage includes. They will be able to provide you with a list of in-network providers. If the therapist you’d like to work with is not an in-network provider, ask what your insurance covers. For example, your insurance plan might specify a 70/30 plan for Out of Network providers. Which means, you could get reimbursed 70% of the session cost.

Tip #5: Take your time finding the right fit

I know you want to feel better as soon as possible, but remember, the best indicator of a successful outcome is the strength of the relationship between the client and therapist. Most therapists offer a consultation; this is beneficial for you and them. If it doesn’t feel like a good fit during that consultation, then move on. Be honest with yourself, now is not the time to settle. The right therapist for you is out there and it might take talking to a few to find them!

A free therapy consultation in Austin

I hope this helps you find the right therapist in Austin. If you are still feeling stuck, feel free to call me at (512)641-9528 for a free 15 minute phone consultation. I’d be happy to hear about what is happening and help direct you to the right person. If you are looking for help with navigating the journey to motherhood, you can read more about how I can help.