Looking for a therapist who matches your needs and is a personal fit? Zencare can help!
Here's how to maximize Zencare’s search tool to find a therapist who best fits your needs. Get started with the following three simple steps!
Dr. Wendy O'Connor's office
1. Filter by the criteria that matter most to you
Head over to the search page for therapists near you:
Zencare’s search pages have interactive filters that let you narrow your search according to the criteria that are most important to you. You may consider:
- Insurance ﹘ If you wish to use insurance, make sure you include the insurance filter to view therapists who are in-network with your plan. However, there are many reasons why you may wish not to limit your search by insurance; read on for reasons to see an out-of-network therapist.
- Specialty ﹘ While most therapists have experience working with common life stressors, anxiety, and depression, for certain challenges, it’s best to find a therapist who has specific expertise. If you are seeking care related to eating disorders, trauma, OCD, or substance use, or another specific challenge, you definitely want to include a specialty filter.
- Availability ﹘ If you want to have an in-person appointment with a therapist within two weeks, look for therapists with a turquoise checkmark next to their photo. Availability is updated every month so it’s always accurate. If you can’t find someone who meets your needs and you’re willing to wait, you can always contact a therapist directly to get on a waitlist.
2. Select a few profiles to view in depth
Once you’ve narrowed down your search, select a few profiles to review in closer detail. Rest assured knowing that you can’t go wrong when you choose a Zencare therapist – all of our therapists go through an extensive vetting process to ensure they use evidence-based, best-practice approaches.
Focus on finding a therapist you would feel comfortable working with by considering the following information on each profile:
- Video ﹘ Learn about a therapist’s unique specialties and approach in their own words. This is the best way to get a sense of their personality and determine with whom you might ultimately connect.
- Professional statement ﹘ The professional statement is a written summary of a therapist’s expertise and experience. It will provide more detail about the approaches they use and the relationship they strive to build with clients.
- Logistical details ﹘ Each individual profile also contains pertinent logistical information, such as where the therapist’s office is located and their accepted insurances and fees. Make sure you double check this information to ensure working with the therapist would be logistically feasible.
3. Book free initial phone calls to find a great personal fit
Once you have an idea of which therapists you might like to work with, you can book an initial phone consultation.
Using the turquoise calendar on the top right of a therapist profile, schedule a convenient time for the therapist to call you directly and discuss if they may be the right provider for you. You can schedule a call with as many therapists as you’d like to find your best fit.
Here are some questions they may ask and you might want to prepare to answer, as well as questions you may wish to ask them.
Questions they may ask:
- What insurance company and plan do you have?
- Have you been in therapy before? What has worked in the past and what hasn’t?
- Why are you considering therapy now?
- What are you looking for in a therapist?
- What does your schedule look like?
Questions you may want to ask:
- What is your experience working with [challenge]?
- What does a typical session with you look like? (length of the session, session structure, your approach, how long clients typically see you for?)
- How would your clients describe your approach and their relationship with you?
If you still aren’t sure if you’ve found the right therapist for you or are deciding between two, it’s totally okay to set up in-person appointments with more than one therapist until you know you’ve found your match.
Now that you have a good idea of how to narrow down your therapist search, learn what to expect at your first session or read our guide to how to find a therapist.