Find A Mental Health Therapist Near Me: Individual Therapy Options

Starting the process of finding the right therapist near you may feel overwhelming, but it can be a positive first step towards improved mental health. Cost, distance, the therapist’s specialty, and your provider preferences are a few key factors that may matter in your search. 

Here, we’ll cover practical tips for finding experienced therapists, either online or in person. We’ll also cover how to recognize a good match for your needs and what to expect when you attend a session for the first time.

Why you might start looking for a therapist

Experiencing mental health symptoms, like signs of depression or anxiety, is a common reason people start looking for a therapist. However, a person might also benefit from therapy even if they're not showing signs of a diagnosable disorder.

In addition to treating mental health symptoms, a therapist can help people who are dealing with:

• Low self-esteem
• Parenting stress
• Communication challenges or other relationship issues
• High stress levels, overwhelm, or burnout
• Trouble managing anger
• Challenges associated with major life transitions
• Grief
• Past trauma

Different types of therapy may help with different challenges. For example, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) may help people experiencing anxiety learn to shift distorted thoughts, while dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) may help people experiencing depression learn to manage strong emotions.

You can also use therapy as a way to develop healthy coping skills, cultivate more self-awareness, work toward your professional goals, and build a sense of happiness throughout this process of healing and growth.

What does a therapist do?

Therapists are trained mental health professionals who provide assistance for understanding emotions, thoughts, and behaviors. They can help people learn how to manage the symptoms of various mental health conditions, but you don’t need a diagnosis to benefit from therapy. 

How therapists provide a safe space

Research has shown that feeling safe and trusting their therapist is essential for a good therapeutic process, so one of a therapist’s roles is to create a space where their clients feel safe. Generally, therapists can create this type of environment by building trust, demonstrating empathy, maintaining nonjudgmental attitudes, and setting appropriate boundaries. 

Types of mental health professionals

There are various types of mental health professionals, each with different qualifications, training, and education. For example, psychologists typically hold doctoral degrees, while licensed clinical social workers (LCSWs) and licensed professional counselors (LPCs) hold master’s degrees. Many types of mental health professionals can provide mental health support, but the services they can provide are likely dictated by the scope of practice established in their state of licensure.

Factors to consider when starting your search

Before you start looking for a therapist, it can be useful to evaluate your needs and preferences to help guide your search. Below are a few key factors to consider.

Your reasons for seeking therapy

The first factor to consider is why you’re seeking therapy, which can help you decide which type of provider you're looking for and the therapeutic approach that may be most helpful. For example, you might look for a therapist who specializes in trauma-informed therapy if you need help processing the pain of adverse experiences. 

Your therapist preferences

Research shows that having a therapist you feel comfortable with can make for better therapy outcomes. The first step toward finding a good fit is considering your preferences in a provider. 

For example, many Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) prefer to see a therapist who identifies as BIPOC themselves, just as many in the LGBTQIA+ community prefer to work with a therapist who identifies as LGBTQIA+ themselves.

You may also have preferences related to your therapist’s:

• Age 
• Gender identity
• Cultural background
• Religious beliefs
• Language(s) spoken

Their professional experience could be important to you as well. For instance, you might want a provider who has experience working with clients who have obsessive-compulsive disorder, a chronic illness, a certain type of trauma history, etc. Or, you might want a provider who has a certain certification or area of focus.

Cost

Cost is an important factor for many people who are looking for a therapist. How much a therapy session costs depends on many factors, like:

• Your location: Therapy often costs more where demand is high (like big, popular cities), or provider availability is low (like remote areas)
• Therapist credentials and experience: Specialized or highly experienced providers tend to charge more for their services
• Format: Online therapy can cost less than traditional therapy (in-person)
• Insurance: Coverage can sometimes lower the cost of sessions
• Discounts or financial aid: Sliding-scale fees may help make therapy more available for those with a lower income

Finding a therapist who fits your budget can be an important step toward connecting with the right provider for you.

Source

Online vs. in-person

Next, you'll need to decide if you feel more comfortable meeting with a therapist virtually (via phone, video, or chat) or in person. 

Online therapy eliminates the commute and the need to sit in a waiting room, letting you connect with your therapist from home. That’s why it can be an accessible or more convenient option for patients who:

• Have a disability or medical conditions that make them unable to travel to appointments.
• Live in remote or rural areas with few or no mental health care providers nearby.
• Looking for a type of specialty provider who does not practice in their immediate area.
• Live in a densely populated city where there are not enough therapists to meet demand.

That said, in-person therapy may be best for those who:

• Have specialized needs
• Looking for psychiatry, family therapy, or group therapy
• Find it easier to bond with a therapist when they're face-to-face

Consider any preferences you may have, or try both types of sessions to see which you prefer.

Finding an online or in-person therapist

Reaching out to a therapist for support isn’t a sign of weakness; it’s deeply human to need help, and asking for support is courageous. There are many ways to start your therapist search. Below are a few to consider.

Doing an online search

If you find a prospective therapist this way, you can reach out to them via phone or email to ask about their rates and availability. A sample outreach message could look like this:

Hello, I’m interested in attending therapy for my anxiety symptoms, and I noticed you specialize in CBT for anxiety. Do you accept [insurance company name], and are you currently taking on new clients?

Asking for a referral

Another option is to meet with your primary care doctor to ask for a referral. You can share your main symptoms with them to see if they know a provider who could help and who accepts your health insurance (if applicable). 

Asking for a personal recommendation

If you have family members, friends, a partner, or other loved ones who are in therapy, you can ask them for a recommendation. You may not want to see the same therapist that they do, but asking how they found theirs or whether their therapist can recommend someone could be a helpful place to start.

Contacting your insurance company

If you have health insurance that covers therapy, your insurance company will often have a list of in-network providers (online and/or in person). You can contact a provider from the list to confirm that they take your insurance, ask about their credentials, and find out about their availability.

Getting matched with a therapist online

If you're interested in online therapy, you can use the matching feature on a platform like BetterHelp to find a therapist. Here’s how it works:

1. Fill out a brief questionnaire about your needs and preferences.
2. Get matched with a licensed provider.
3. Schedule your first virtual session.

If you’d like a more detailed overview of how to get started with BetterHelp, you can refer to this guide.

What to know about a therapist’s qualifications and licensure

All counselors, psychologists, and therapists must be licensed by their state board to practice. They may also focus on a specific type of therapy, such as licensed marriage and family therapists or couples therapists. Checking a therapist’s qualifications and licensure can help you ensure that you are working with a qualified professional.

Education and training requirements

Every state has different licensing requirements for therapists; however, they typically include completion of a master’s degree program, passing a required certification exam, and completing a specified number of supervised clinical hours. After obtaining a state license, most professionals are required to complete continuing education hours to maintain it.

Again, the particulars vary by state and may depend on the type of educational program or training the professional has completed.

Online therapy as a convenient, cost-effective option

Online therapy through a platform like BetterHelp can make the process of finding a therapist easier. BetterHelp is committed to matching clients with the right provider for them, and 93% of BetterHelp clients had their therapist preferences met in 2024.

Once you’ve been matched with a therapist on BetterHelp, you can schedule your first live sessions to start receiving personalized care. Depending on your preferences, your sessions can take place via:

• Phone 
• Video 
• Online chat

Flexible sessions with qualified providers

BetterHelp therapists are required to be fully qualified, with at least three years of experience—though a large number of therapists on the platform have many years of professional practice. 

BetterHelp therapists often offer expanded hours compared to in-person providers, which can make it easier to find a time slot that works for you. You can also use in-app messaging to communicate with your therapist outside of sessions, and they’ll respond when they are available.

Virtual therapy also means no commuting, as you can attend sessions from the comfort of home. While it can be a convenient option for many, it may not be the right choice in every case. Those with severe conditions or who require medication, for example, may benefit from in-person care instead.

Please note that BetterHelp therapists cannot make an official diagnosis or prescribe medication.

Online therapy vs. in-person therapy costs

On average, in-person therapy can cost between $100–$350 per session without insurance. Online therapy sessions through BetterHelp range from $70–$100* per week without insurance, making it a more affordable option for many. 

Many providers on BetterHelp now accept major insurance carriers. In many states, certain therapists on BetterHelp may be in-network with certain insurance plans. Coverage depends on your plan, provider, and availability. When sessions are covered, members typically pay an average copay of about $23 per session. Check your in-network status on the BetterHelp site. 

BetterHelp also accepts HSA/FSA cards and is recognized as an eligible expense by most HSA/FSA providers. For non-insurance users, discounts and financial aid or assistance may be available as part of BetterHelp’s mission to make therapy more available to all.

Getting started with BetterHelp

It’s easy to get started with BetterHelp. Simply fill out the brief onboarding questionnaire to get matched with a licensed provider (often in as little as 48 hours). Once matched, you can schedule your first virtual appointment through your online account. 

Another option is to visit BetterHelp’s Find a Therapist page, where you can browse providers who serve your area and filter by specialty (like “depression” or “family conflict”), language spoken, gender identity, and other traits (like a therapist of color, LGBT-friendly, etc.).

Please note that therapist availability in specific languages can vary and isn’t always guaranteed. Similarly, while we can’t always ensure a match with a therapist from your exact cultural background, BetterHelp will connect you with a counselor who’s well-suited to your needs—considering things like your location, background, and the specific issues and challenges you’d like to address. Once you’ve found a provider this way, you can request an appointment to see if they have availability.

How to know when you’ve found the right therapist

Recognizing when you’ve found the right fit in a therapist signifies the end of your search and the beginning of your healing journey. Sometimes, attending a consultation call or an initial session can be enough to tell whether a therapist will or will not be a good fit for your needs. In other cases, you may need to attend a few sessions before making your decision.

Some signs of a good therapeutic fit can include:

• Confirmation that a therapist has the experience or expertise that you need.
• Feeling like your therapist genuinely cares.
• Feeling that your therapist is showing that they actively listen when you speak.
• Feeling a sense of trust and peace when sharing openly with your therapist.

If you don’t feel like a particular therapist is the right fit for your needs, it’s okay to switch. It’s not uncommon to change therapists a few times before finding the right provider for you. 

What to expect from your first therapy visit

Gaining a deeper understanding of what to expect from your first therapy visit may help you feel less nervous and more prepared. While each therapist may do things a bit differently, the initial session usually involves these steps:

1. Introductions. The therapist will likely introduce themselves and talk about their professional experience and approach to therapy, and they’ll also ask you to share what’s bringing you to therapy. 
2. Intake. The intake portion is when the therapist asks questions about your health history, whether you’ve been in therapy before, and what your lifestyle is like. They’ll often want to understand how your symptoms or concerns are disrupting your life and what your treatment goals are.
3. Logistics. You might also discuss logistics around payment and scheduling.

Therapists understand that a first session can be nerve-wracking. Most are dedicated to helping new clients feel safe and comfortable.

You can sign up to see a therapist through online counseling in a few minutes on platforms like BetterHelp (individuals) or Regain (couples). Finding a therapist online may be more convenient because BetterHelp allows you to search for a therapist through our online directory of some of the best therapists, trained in a wide range of therapeutic techniques, with a variety of credentials, including licensed clinical social workers and licensed professional counselors.