Finding the Right Therapist

When faced with a personal conflict, relationship or family troubles, or a mental health condition such as depression, stress, or anxiety, many people turn to a therapist for help. A therapist is a person who has received training to help treat mental or physical health problems. In the context of psychology, a therapist is a person who is trained and licensed to practice psychotherapy.

Finding the right therapist can often be a lengthy and challenging process, and some people may not know where to begin. Determining what kind of therapist is best suited to treat a particular issue may not be the easiest task, and a therapist's ethics or credentials are also often a topic of consideration. It may also be impractical, impossible, or even dangerous for some individuals to spend any length of time on the telephone, contacting potential therapists and describing the issues they would like to explore in therapy.

GoodTherapy.org offers a directory to help you in your search for a therapist. Using the directory, you can search by therapist location, specialization, gender, and age group treated. If you search by location, your results will include the therapists near you and will display their credentials, location, and the issues they treat. Some types of therapists that may list in our directory include:

• Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSWs): LCSWs have had supervised clinical experience and often have backgrounds in sociology or social work. They may work as individual psychotherapists or in community and group settings.

• Licensed Addiction Counselors (LACs): LACs are not typically referred to as therapists, but they may practice alongside therapists. A LAC will have, at minimum, a bachelor's degree and one year of training in addiction counseling.

• Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFTs): LMFTs focus primarily on marriage and family therapy. A LMFT will have a master's degree and typically must complete an internship before practicing.

  Source: Goodtherapy.org