OK, I'm pretty sure I need therapy. I've got to do something about my behavior, and want to give it a shot before trying medication. I've been thinking that for a few years, but the thing that's stopped me is, I'm embarrassingly clueless how it works. How does one find a therapist? Do you get a physician's referral, just like other specialist stuff? Does insurance ever pay for it? Please clue me in!
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@Mama Bird: it likely depends on if you have a ppo or hmo. I have a ppo so referrals aren't required. My primary care referred me to a practice that did not jive with me at all. I wish I had asked more questions before just going to the appointment but it is what it is.
Depending on what your issue is you'll want to look for different kinds of "therapists". Ones that deal in behavioral change are usually best. Therapists that just sit you on a couch and talk about your problems every appointment aren't that helpful.
I have a high deductible plan so I pay everything up to it, but my insurance has a lower price that they agree on so I pay less than if I didn't use my insurance
Happy to answer other questions. I really need to hunt a therapist I actually find helpful but haven't gotten around to it yet
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@Mama Bird: Good for you for prioritizing your mental health-- it's so important! I am in therapy and have been taking behavioral meds (zoloft) for years. As far as insurance goes, call the number on the back of your insurance card and ask about your cognitive therapy benefits. It depends entirely on the insurance plan what will be covered. Sometimes it's a percentage, completely OOP, or covered. Sometimes you only get so many sessions. Ours is completely covered after we hit our deductible. Your insurance can tell you all if that. Then, they should be able to give you a list of in-network participating providers that you can research. Some therapists have websites that can give you insight into their school of thought/methods, etc. You just call, ask if they are accepting new clients and ask about a first appointment. Don't be surprised or discourages if you have to try out a few, it's all about the right fit.
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@MamaBear87: @crazydoglady: thanks! This is super helpful. I didn't even know what kind of therapist I'm looking for. I'll definitely use this info as a starting point when I call my insurance.
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@Mama Bird: your insurance should have a list of providers on the website too. I had a hard time finding anyone in my area that took my insurance, unfortunately, but again a good starting point. And my primary care doctor gave me a list of providers in the area as well. I was really frustrated with how hard it was to find someone. Good luck!
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not much to add from the great information above other than if you're hoping to use insurance, sometimes (if you're not too self-conscious asking) a co-worker on the same policy can give you a recommendation.
I don't know what aspect of your behavior you want to change, but cognitive behavior therapy can work well for people with OCD or specific habits to break. if you're like me and you have a bunch of ancient issues to work out and you want to treat your spouse better and be treated better and be less bogged down, then respectfully disagree with @MamaBear87, the kind of therapist that wants to sit and talk about all your problems is very helpful
and want to add I think it's great that you're going to go. the other thing that depends totally on your situation is that medication can be the difference between night and day--I don't take any but I know it can do wonders, so just wanted to encourage you not to be reluctant to try it if your therapist (or you) thinks it might help.
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@LCTBQE: i don't think it never helps. Just if that is all they do and they aren't also helping you learn better habits that eventually you're just rehashing the same things. I appreciate the respectfully though
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@MamaBear87: yes definitely agree with above, we're on the same page!
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So important! Definitely good for you. Full disclosure, I work in the field. I absolutely agree with the comments about finding the right fit- research backs this up, that it's more about the therapist fit than the type of therapy they practice. The type of therapy that's helpful is different for different people too. So while CBT is great and evidence-based, I don't think it's the best fit for everyone. Other types of therapy that I like are Emotion Focused Therapy and somatic approaches. It can be helpful to think about whether you want someone highly directive or someone that will let you take the lead and process things in your own time at your own pace.
Most of all, trust your gut! And don't give up if you don't find the right person the first time. Good luck!
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@Foodnerd81: thanks! I don't know why I never thought of that, I guess my brain is fried from working crazy hours...
@LCTBQE: thanks! I don't want to get very specific, but I think it's not talk therapy I need. I don't want the therapist to tell me why or how the past messes up my judgment. I know that. I just need to change a specific behavior, pretty much on a reflex level. Kind of like training a dog, except I need to train myself.
@AnnabelleG: interesting! That's a lot to consider. Thanks!
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@Mama Bird: Based on your previous comment, I would look for someone who specializes in mindfulness/cognitive behavioral therapy as opposed to narrative type therapy.
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I’m also in the field, and agree with most of the above. I’ll add that you shouldn’t need a referral from your primary, and once you get a list of names from your insurance company, this site is a great resource for learning a bit more about potential therapists:
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Good for you!. I love going to therapy and I really value what my counselor says.
What the others say but when calling the office do request a therapist who specializes in what you're looking for. I wanted a woman (preferably a mom, this mattered to me) who was trained in anxiety, compulsive thinking and women's issues. I got a good match and only bc I requested that- the office manager was gonna stick me with some random therapist otherwise.
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