Our 3-Step Process to Find the Right Therapist

Locating a therapist who aligns with your style is a vital step towards better mental health, but the process can be a bit overwhelming. Follow these three steps to find the right therapist for you.

Assess your goals. It’s a good idea to analyze what you’re hoping to attain from therapy. Counsellors tend to have different specializations, and knowing ahead of time what areas you wish to focus on can help narrow down your search. Some aspects to consider are:

• • Approach: There are many different types of therapy, such as psychodynamic, humanistic, holistic, and cognitive-behavioural therapy. 
  • Age group focus: Many counsellors prefer to work with a given age group (children, teenagers, adults, older adults). Be sure to double-check this before deciding on a therapist. 
  • Techniques: If you’ve heard of a particular therapeutic technique you wish to try, such as Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) or art therapy, aim to search for counsellors who have experience with these methods. 

Ask friends, family and doctors for referrals. Word of mouth is a great way to learn about good therapists in your area. This can provide further insight into the therapist’s style and personality, to see if it aligns with yours. If the person providing a recommendation is comfortable sharing, it’s a good idea to ask about the insurance the therapist accepts, the location of the clinic, the therapist’s personality, and their general approach to sessions. 

Conduct research and reach out. Platforms such as Psychology Today help filter results based on therapist location, gender, specializations, insurance and more. When reviewing company websites, look for customer reviews on the site or check Google Maps reviews. These provide a sense of the clinic’s quality before you go in. When you’ve located a therapist you think is the right fit for you, reach out to them for an initial consultation. Ask lots of questions and be ready to explain your goals for therapy. 

If you’re curious about our therapists at Allegro, you can see detailed bios of each counsellor here. We offer free initial consultations to answer any questions you may have, and help find the right fit for you.