How To Find The Best Therapist For You
Finding a therapist, particularly the right therapist for you, can be tricky and uncomfortable. Here are some ideas to get you started.
Finding a therapist, particularly the right therapist for you, can be tricky and uncomfortable. You’re probably going through a very stressful time in your life already and you may not know what you’re looking for or how to even begin finding support.
Thankfully, there are many ways to find the right therapist in Toronto and elsewhere in Ontario. Here are a few:
Talk to your family doctor. It’s important that your family doctor is aware of your mental health difficulties anyway, so now is the time to have that conversation if you’ve been putting it off. They can also help you find a local therapist who could be right for you.
Talk to family and friends. Social support is important at a time like this, so talking with close people in your network is a great way to start feeling better anyway. See if your network can recommend a clinic where they’ve had a good experience. Be aware, though, that you likely will not be able to see the same therapist as that family member, at least not if you live in a big city. Therapists should try to avoid having clients who are close to one another to avoid conflicts of interest and to maintain objectivity. So you won’t be able to see your mom’s amazing therapist, but your mom’s therapist may have someone else in their network they could recommend.
Connect with your local hospital or community health centre. Publicly-funded therapy is available in Ontario through hospitals and other clinics. There are also some Ontario-specific digital options available. Check our out Resources page for specific ideas.
Search online. Googling therapists in your area is another great way to find someone, though this can be time-consuming and hard to know which therapist is actually best for your needs.
Manually search through online directories like Psychology Today. There are many online directories of therapists that you can browse through on your own. Some of these will offer detailed information about the therapists and their training, while others can be pretty bare bones. Searching online on your own can take quite a bit of time to find the right person, so don’t be discouraged if you don’t find someone right away.
Connect with us! If you think we might be a good fit for your needs, connect to schedule a free initial call to see if we can help.
Disclaimer: This post is intended for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for psychotherapy. The information provided is general and may not be appropriate for your particular mental health needs. Always consult a qualified health professional to discuss your personal needs and goals.