Author: Keith Johnston, Director My Therapist Online
1st Published: 24th October 2023
Finding a good therapist or counsellor may feel like an overwhelming task when you first set out. If you search online for therapists, you’ll find a huge range of therapist qualifications, specialisms, therapy styles and costs.
How do you know what is going to be right for you?
Does the right therapist even live near you?
This guide is designed to help you think through your options, work out what is going to be best for you and show how to find a therapist near you.
Can’t I Just Choose Any Old Therapist? Why Finding the Right Therapist is So Important
So why is it important to find the right therapist?
Successful therapy is underpinned by the relationship you build with your therapist. Opening up to anyone about intimate personal thoughts and feelings is hard and ultimately you need to trust the person you are talking to.
Unfortunately lots of people try therapy for the first time, start with a therapist that may not have been the ‘right fit’ for them, have a bad experience and then decide ‘therapy is not right for me’. Spending time on finding a good therapist is an important step towards being successful in your therapy sessions.
A good therapist will make you feel safe, supported, heard, understood, validated, unjudged and empowered. Ultimately this all comes back to being able to build trust with your chosen practitioner.
So how do you find a therapist that is the ‘right fit’ for you?
Things to Consider When Finding a Therapist or Counsellor
Therapists are a diverse bunch! It’s important to think a little about any preferences you may have when looking for the right therapist for you.
Would you prefer a therapist of a particular age, gender or perhaps one who understands your cultural background or who has experience in talking about LGBTQIA+ topics?
Do you have a preference for the communication style or approach to treatment your therapist may take?
Have a think also if you want to see your therapist in-person or if you would prefer the flexibility of meeting online. If you want to meet in person, consider how far you would be willing to travel from your home or whether you could have sessions close to your workplace.
You may be able to access free therapy through the NHS (see below) or you may decide to bypass any associated waiting lists and look for private therapy.
With private therapy your sessions may be covered by any private health insurance you have – it’s a good idea to check with your insurer about what types of therapy are covered and whether there is a cap on session fees.
If you are paying for sessions yourself, have a think about what your budget is per session or how much you are willing to invest in a course of therapy.
7 Ways to Find a Therapist Near You
Free Talking Therapy with the NHS
In the UK you can access talking therapies for free on the NHS.
You can either refer yourself directly to an NHS talking therapies service without a referral from a GP, or talk to your GP and they can refer you.
Help is available in person, by video, over the phone or as an online course.
The NHS also signposts people toward the Every Mind Matters website for some simple steps you can take to look after your mental health.
The website offers expert advice to help improve your wellbeing, as well as practical tips on sleep, coping with money worries and self-care.
Other Free or Low Cost Resources
Work Employee Assistance Programs – Talk to your employer to find out if you have access to an EAP as part of your benefits package. Most EAPs can get employees access to short-term counselling or therapy services.
University / College - If you are a student your university or college should provide a free counselling service which you can access without involving your tutors.
Charities & other organisations – Some charities offer free or low-cost therapy services. For example Anxiety UK offers reduced cost sessions for people on a low income. IESO health accepts self-referrals and offers a free text-based therapy service.
Search Online for Private Listings
You can search online for therapists in your area using Google or your preferred search engine. Try to use search terms that pinpoint the type of therapist you are looking for (e.g. Psychologist vs CBT therapist) or the type of approach that would best suit your situation (e.g. EMDR for trauma or couples counselling for relationships).
If you are unsure about which of these is right for you, you may benefit from a therapist matching service.
Once you have a list of therapists available in your local area, you can review their websites, read testimonials and get a feel for whether they may be a good fit for you.
We recommend contacting a few therapists to arrange for an initial meeting to check you are comfortable talking to them – this also gives the therapist a chance to read or hear a brief synopsis of your situation to understand if they are best equipped to help you.
Use a Therapist Directory
Most therapists belong to a professional body or organisation which supports them to develop professionally & uphold the standards of their practice. These professional bodies often have a therapist directory which you can use to locate therapists close to your home or workplace.
Use the following links to access the relevant therapist directories for CBT therapists, counsellors, psychologists and psychotherapists.
British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP) – Find a CBT Therapist
British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) – Find a Counsellor
British Psychological Society (BPS) – Find a Psychologist
UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) – Find a Psychotherapist
Use a Therapist Matching Service
If you are unsure about the type of therapist you require or the best therapeutic approach to help you in your situation, you may benefit from using a therapist matching service like My Therapist Online.
Their quick online form lets you describe the problems you want help with and allows you to set your preferences on timing of appointments, chosen therapist gender & budget.
One of their team of qualified accredited mental health professionals will read your application, draw out your specific requirements and match you with the best therapist for your needs.
By having a detailed knowledge of the therapists registered on their site, they are able to accurately tailor each unique match to ensure you are paired with a therapist best suited to helping you.
You will be sent a recommended therapist along with a few other options. You can review the recommended therapist profiles, check their testimonials and arrange for a free intro session before deciding to begin with paid sessions.
Get Personal Recommendations
You may have friends, family or trusted colleagues who have benefited from a course of therapy with a mental health expert. It’s a good idea to ask them what they liked about their therapist & check if those qualities resonate with you.
Try contacting the therapist directly to see if they would be comfortable in treating you. For ethical reasons the therapist may not be able to treat a close family member or friend of another client.
Consider Online Therapy as an Alternative to a Therapist Near You
Covid-19 changed the way we interact with each other forever.
Skype used to be a modern, if slightly awkward, way we communicated with distant friends and family. Fast forward to our post pandemic world and Zoom & FaceTime calls are commonplace.
Seeing a therapist online is a really useful way in accessing specialist help that may not be available in your local area.
In fact, seeing an online therapist has a lot of benefits and there is growing evidence to show that online therapy sessions are just as beneficial, if not even more so than face to face sessions.
Some benefits of online therapy are:
Access to specialists – you can get the therapist that is best for your personal situation, you don’t have to settle for whoever lives close to you & wait for their availability to open up;
Familiarity – have sessions in your home or wherever you feel most relaxed and comfortable. Quite often, people are able to open up more quickly in sessions when they are in their own environment;
Zero travel – you don’t have to travel to in-person sessions and can easily fit sessions into your busy schedule;
Privacy – chance encounters with a neighbour or a colleague in a therapist’s waiting room will not happen with online sessions;
Cost – online sessions are often cheaper than in-person fees
7 Ways to Find a Therapist Near You Infographic
Conclusion
Finding the right therapist is a crucial step in your therapy journey.
Trust, understanding, and connection are key in a successful therapeutic relationship.
Many shy away from therapy due to one mismatched experience, which proves choosing a therapist aligned with your needs is so important.
Whether through the NHS, private directories, personal recommendations or therapy matching, consider your personal preferences of therapist and their communication style.
Online therapy offers flexibility, connecting you with specialists beyond any geographical limits.
Ultimately, therapy is deeply personal, and the right therapist is the first vital step towards a better you.