Need help finding someone to do some really great work with?
Maryland has a little bit of everything to offer; ocean, mountains, cities, farms and of course our beautify Chesapeake Bay. But just because we have it all doesn’t mean we don’t all need a little support sometimes. If you are looking for a counselor or therapist in Maryland I’d like to offer a few tips.
It’s a process.
Now that we are all zoom savvy, thanks to social distancing, you can see any therapist who has a license in the state as long as they too are doing tele-therapy. (Not all therapist are and not all clients are best served virtually but many are.) In theory that opens up a lot more options. But, that also opens up a lot more options. I really do think this is a good thing. It may take a bit more time in your search but if the mindset shifts from who lives in my town, to who is the best fit for me, magic can happen. It is work, don’t get me wrong. And even with the filters on psychologytoday.com, there still may be a ton of options that all seems the same in the two sentence and a picture you see as you scroll through. So how do you begin to find someone to work with?
Seek a specialist.
Some therapist/counselors refer to themselves as generalist and see a wide range of people. Others/many specialize in a population or a type of therapy or both. This can be a big change in mindset for some people and a bit of a let down. Not every therapist can help with everything. It is more like specialist as doctors as in you wouldn’t go to a chiropractor to get your teeth fixed and you wouldn’t be best starved seeing someone who specialized in kids with ADHD if you are looking for help with addiction.
Gather information and make a list.
Another piece is learning a bit about their style or training. If you have been in therapy or other self exploration, some things like CBT, mindfulness, EMDR etc may be familiar but if not I suggest googling the things you want to work on and types of therapy for example ‘therapy for PTSD’ and seeing what comes up. If this style of research is not up your alley or you don’t have the energy right now, no worries, skip to the next one.
Similarly, not just using a directory listing, but actually looking at their website can really help you get to know them and their style even as a person. If their website really clicks with you thats a great sign and they can go on the list to be contacted.
Also googling what you are looking for vs just relying on a directory can help open up options of people not on the directory or those more closely aligned with what you seek. For example searching trauma therapy for working moms in Maryland may help you land much closer to what you seek vs just Trauma therapy in Maryland.
Figuring out insurance and payment can be complicated.. at first.
Some therapist take insurance and are on a panel with one ore more insurance companies. You would need to be really clear with your insurance company on the cost of your copay. You would give your therapist your insurance info and they would likely do the rest. You would pay your copay at each session. Also note that when you use insurance a diagnosis is needed to bill insurance. Some therapist are cash pay or out of network. In this case you would have to find out how much if any your insurance would reimburse for an out of network provider. Then you would pay the full provider fee at each session and get a bill to reimburse through your insurance company. Some people prefer not to bill insurance at all and pay the fee per session. There are pros and cons to each situation and will likely depend on highly personal factors.
Contact a few people to see who you like best.
In my opinion it’s about a good fit. Once you do have a list of counselors or therapist to contact- choose your method being email or phone and reach out sharing what you are looking for. If what you seek does not align with what they do- or if they are full, you can also use that time to ask if they have anyone to recommend or have any specialities that they would suggest given what you seek. Most will do a free 15 minute consultation. It’s a really useful time for both client and therapist to share info about what they want/can offer and to get a feel for each other.
Remember to advocate for yourself and what you want. Yes things might be pretty though right now or you wouldn’t be seeing help but also know you are in the drivers seat and you are seeking a partner in the healing process. Finally, if you start meeting with them and it doesn’t work out, it is ok, reasonable and responsible on the therapist part to help you part ways amicably. Again your treatment and best interest are the priority here. With information, grace, openness and persistence you can find someone who you can do some really great work with and get life back on track. It’s a process, be kind to yourself and just do your best.
A free consultation.
I hope this helps you find a therapist that really works for you. If you are looking for a counselor or therapist with a speciality in sport and performance, message me for a free 15 minute consultation. I work with current and former athletes of all ages who see the world through a performance lens and want to get back on track. See my specialities for more information.
