How to find a therapist

There are many different types of therapy techniques and approaches. We’ve detailed common types below and their associated diagnoses:

• General approaches

  • CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) - identifies and changes unhelpful thought patterns; good for most general concerns, strongest for Depression and Anxiety Disorders

  • ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) - accept difficult thoughts instead of fighting them and act on your values; Depression, Anxiety Disorders, Chronic Pain, chronic illness

  • Psychodynamic Therapy - explores how past experiences shape current patterns; less structured and longer-term, for insight rather than skills

  • Supportive Therapy - coping and stability without a set protocol; grief, acute stress, major life transitions

  Condition-specific

  • ERP (Exposure and Response Prevention) - face triggers without performing the compulsion; gold standard for OCD, also Phobias

  • EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) - guided eye movements or tapping to reduce the charge of a memory, with no detailed retelling required; PTSD and trauma

  • CPT and PE (Cognitive Processing Therapy, Prolonged Exposure) - structured, time-limited PTSD protocols widely used in the VA system

  • DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy) - skills for mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and relationships; Borderline Personality Disorder, self-harm, Eating Disorders. Ask whether it is full DBT with a skills group or DBT-informed

  • CBT-I (CBT for Insomnia) - short protocol resetting sleep habits and schedule; first-line for chronic Insomnia, ahead of medication. Search for it by name

  • MI (Motivational Interviewing) - works through ambivalence about change; Substance Use Disorders

  • Somatic Therapy - body-based work with sensation and nervous system regulation rather than talking alone; trauma and anxiety that shows up physically

  • IFS (Internal Family Systems) - "parts work" to understand conflicting internal voices; trauma and harsh self-criticism

  Family and relationships

  • PCIT (Parent-Child Interaction Therapy) - therapist coaches the parent live during play; ages 2 to 7 with defiance, aggression, or disruptive behavior

  • EFT and Gottman Method (Emotionally Focused Therapy) - the two best-supported couples approaches; relationship conflict and disconnection

Finding an appropriate therapist can be incredibly frustrating and draining during a time when energy and motivation is already at risk. Not all therapists are the same with varied credentials, training, expertise, patient populations, insurance coverage, and personal passions.

Therapy is also a very personal decision and the provider that works well for one person may not be the right fit for another.

Therapists practice under several credentials. LCMHC and LMFT training tends to place the most consistent emphasis on practical skills and interventions, so we usually suggest starting there. You will also see LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker), Psychologist (PhD or PsyD), and associate-level licenses such as LCMHCA or LCSWA, which indicate a therapist still accruing supervised hours toward full licensure. Any of these can be an excellent fit, and if you already have a therapist you trust, credential alone is not a reason to switch.

So, I like to provide the following general guide for refining the options and finding the best therapist for you:

• Go to PsychologyToday.com

• Search by location (city or zip; search entire state if open to telehealth)

• Refine results by insurance and/or diagnosis

• I advise limiting the results to two credentials:

  • LCMHC (Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor)

  • LMFT (Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist)

• Read over their profile and investigate their website, if listed, to see if the therapist matches your values and can address your concerns

• Contact the therapist in multiple ways (phone, website, email) to ensure they receive your inquiry as some providers do not monitor all methods of contact

• Follow up with them if you don’t receive a response within a week; if no further response, move on to the next option

• Contact your Wendell Psychiatry provider if you’re unsure if a specific therapist is a good option