How to Find a Therapist for Your Anxiety

How to Find a Therapist for Your Anxiety

One of the toughest things about seeking an anxiety therapist is that the process itself is one that can spark anxiety. You can find yourself stuck and feeling unable to seek help because of the very thing that you need help with.

A good way to approach getting therapy for anxiety is to break it down into small, manageable steps. If it helps, you could think of the obstacle created by your anxiety in the same way you would a physical challenge. If you have a broken leg and you need to get down a hallway to the doctor's office, it is going to take you a little bit longer, and that's okay. Similarly, it's also okay to take your time finding the anxiety treatment that's right for you.

The Money Part of Therapy

If you are going to pay for your anxiety disorder treatments with your insurance, your first step should be to identify the therapists that you can use. Your insurance provider should be able to get you a list of in-network therapists, and you can see which ones offer therapy for anxiety.

If you are uninsured or your insurance won't cover your anxiety treatment, you can look into therapists that have a sliding scale payment plan or other options, such as reduced-price or free therapy at a local university or clinic.

Other Ways to Find Anxiety Therapists

 Your regular doctor or even family and friends might also be able to recommend an anxiety therapist.

You could also look online. This can be a low-pressure way to find out more about a therapist because you may be able to explore their web presence and get an idea of what their approach is and whether they address issues specific to you, such as treatment of panic attacks.

Contacting Anxiety Therapists

 For some people who are seeking anxiety relief, this is the big stumbling block. Going down a list and calling up therapists and asking them questions can feel overwhelming.

There are a few ways to deal with this. You can just call one per day. You could also get a trusted loved one to sit with you while you make these calls or even ask someone to make them for you.

Remember that the therapists you are contacting work with people who have anxiety all the time. They understand the struggle that you are going through, and they are there to help you.

Initial Questions to Ask

 Think of your first contact with a therapist as kind of audition or job interview. You may be tempted to just go with the first therapist that you call in order to get this part over with, but it really is better to contact a few.

Your first questions should be practical ones, asking about costs and confirming that they take your insurance. Other questions to ask should be about their credentials and experience. A good anxiety therapist will be accustomed to answering these types of questions.

Once you have the initial practicalities out of the way, other things to consider are whether they use evidence-based therapies and what types. These might include things like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or Dialectical Behavior Therapy. You probably don't need to get too bogged down in the specific type of therapy since what is most important is that you feel safe and comfortable with the therapist and know that they are qualified to help.

Choose the therapist that you feel comfortable with and make an appointment.

Meeting With Your Therapist

For the first session, you might want to make another list of questions. Some of these may be particular to you and your situation. You might also ask about things such as what they would do in an emergency.

Another thing that can be difficult about finding the right anxiety therapist is that the first one you go to might not be right for you. On top of that, you may be worried about whether it is just your anxiety talking if you are not comfortable with a therapist.

You do need to find someone that you are comfortable working with, so if you do not feel as though you are establishing a useful rapport with someone after a few sessions, you may want to try the next therapist on your list.

Don't procrastinate on seeking help for your anxiety but do take your time and move at a slow pace if that feels more comfortable for you. The anxiety therapist that is right for your close friend or family member may not be right for you, so be sure to pay attention to your own instincts and needs. You will find the right person eventually even if it takes you a little while.

 To find out more about anxiety treatment check out How Can Anxiety Therapy Help?