Do I have to find a therapist near me?

Written by a therapist in Long Beach

First let me give you an insight about therapists: Most of us are not tech savvy.  Prior to COVID, it was almost a requirement to find a therapist near you because most therapists didn’t offer online therapy.  Since COVID, the non-tech people of the world had to figure it out.  A year into COVID, finding an online therapist is much easier to do, which is a great thing! This is especially true when you are looking for a therapist with good yelp reviews, someone who specializes in what your issue is, or you simply don’t want to sit another minute in traffic or deal with leaving your house after a long day.

So the answer to this question of “Do I have to find a therapist near me” is NO.  In the USA, a therapist can provide therapy to anyone who resides in the state where the therapist is licensed.  Since I am licensed in California, I can see any client who resides in California.  Many therapists (including Long Beach Therapy) do telephone sessions, or use teletherapy options such as Zoom so that you can see the therapist you want and aren’t limited by distance.  There are even platforms to do online therapy for EMDR.

The next question I usually get is: How do I pick a therapist?

Most people go to therapists hoping that the therapist will be a right fit for them. They might get in there, really like the therapists personality, feel that it is the right fit, and then leave the office feeling that they got nothing out of the session. Many people see the therapist as someone who they should not question. Perhaps they have in their mindset that you should not question authority. I would recommend that people go into therapy with an open mind and willing to try different things the therapist is suggesting. However, if they try techniques and it does not seem to work, it is important to give the therapist a map, so to speak, about what feels right for you. I would suggest not being afraid to ask a really quiet therapist to talk more or to ask a really talkative therapist to listen more. If it still isn’t a fit, it might be time to find a new therapist that feels right to you.
A few questions you may want to ask a prospective therapist: (by the way, there are no “right” answers”, just answers that might fit what you are looking for more than other answers).
1. How much do you know about my problems (e.g. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD),  relationship Issues, anxiety, depression)?
2. What is your therapy style (interactive, passive)?
3. Does the therapist treat issues by looking into childhood issues or by looking the problems now and fixing them without delving into childhood issues?
4. What is the therapists’ view on medication? For example: Does the therapist encourage (or push) medication or are they supportive about what you want?
5. Does the therapist offer a free phone consult so that you can check them out?
6. What is your gut feeling about them from talking to them on the phone?  Even though this is #6 on this list, YOUR COMFORT LEVEL with them is really the number one thing you should look at when choosing a therapist. If you are going to couples therapy, you might not realize your comfort level until you actually meet with them the first time because you wouldn’t know over the phone how they interact with the both of you.

One last note: When you call a therapist, don’t just make an appointment with them. Interview them for 5 minutes  (use the questions above as a guide) so that you don’t waste your time going into a session with someone who you will feel uncomfortable with.

If you live in California and are looking for a therapist, please give us a call at Long Beach Therapy: 562-310-9741.