Six Things To Look For In Counseling Centers Near Me

When looking for counseling centers near me, it can be helpful to look into a mental health professional’s credentials, specialties, affordability, location, therapeutic approaches, and the level of trust you feel for them. You may be able to find a therapist who meets all your criteria by evaluating local professionals or matching with a licensed therapist online.

Check credentials

When it comes to credentials for mental health professionals, there can be a long list to choose from. You will normally see letters that follow a professional’s name. These letters typically represent what type of credentials the professional has.

This could be anything from a master’s degree or a Ph.D. to a state license. State licenses typically indicate a professional has met a set of requirements to obtain that license. Understanding what these letters mean can be important for getting you the help that you’re looking for.

Here are a few common credentials to look for. You can always feel free to ask a professional about their credentials if you’re unsure.

• Psychologists normally have a Ph.D. or Psy.D.
• Counselors, therapists, and clinicians usually have an M.S. or M.A., which represent master’s degrees, and licensures such as LCADAC (Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor), LMFT (Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist), and LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor).
• Social workers typically have an MSW or master’s degree in social work and additional licensures such as LICSW, ACSW, and LCSW. 

Check specialties

Not every counselor may specialize in the same area. While it can be perfectly fine to work with someone who doesn’t have a specific area that they focus on, there may be times when you’d prefer that someone have a particular level of expertise in the problem you want to address.

For example, if you’re struggling in your marriage, you may want to find a counselor who mainly works with couples. While you might be able to get help from other counselors, if someone specializes in marriage and family relationships, it’s more likely that they have specialized strategies and advice to help you and your situation.

Similarly, if you’re having a hard time with a particular mental health disorder or diagnosis, you may benefit from seeking out a mental health professional who specializes in helping people with that particular disorder.

Check affordability

The cost of counseling can vary depending on the professional’s credentials and location. There can be options for free counseling, and there can also be counselors that will cost you hundreds of dollars for each session. 

This is generally why it can be important to find out the cost of each session before you start. There may be options to help make counseling more affordable, such as sliding scales and health insurance coverage.

If you have health insurance, it can be helpful to make sure that you understand what type of coverage you have, what it covers, and that you find a counselor who will accept it.

Evaluate trust

Remember that if you are new to counseling, it may feel uncomfortable to talk to a stranger about personal issues, but if that feeling doesn’t go away after a few sessions, then you may want to look for someone else to meet with.

Consider location

If you’re looking for a counselor to meet in person, you’re generally going to need to consider the location. You may want to make sure that you can easily get to their office for your sessions and that it won’t be too complicated for you or your partner (if you’re attending couples counseling) to travel there.

Investigate therapeutic approaches

There can be many different types of therapy, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), psychodynamic therapy, humanistic therapy, and many more. Different approaches can be beneficial for different situations. It can be wise to talk to any counselors you’re considering working with to learn about their potential approach to your particular situation.

How to find a counseling center near me

Online search

The internet can make finding professionals to work with easier than ever. You can get started by simply tying “counseling centers near me” into the search box, and you may view all the options around you.

It’s generally recommended to check reviews and verify the information discussed above before choosing someone to work with. 

Ask for a doctor's referral

Many medical doctors are familiar with local counseling resources. If you feel comfortable discussing this with your doctor, ask them for a referral for counseling services.

However, just because your doctor refers you to someone does not necessarily mean that they will be the best fit for you. You may still want to do your due diligence when choosing the right counselor, and feel free to switch to a different mental health professional if things don’t seem to be working out.

Ask family and friends

Family and friends can be great resources for finding the right counselor. If you know that a friend or family member has gone to counseling for a situation similar to yours, it can be helpful to get their opinion on their counselor. They may also be able to tell you about ones they had negative experiences with to help you avoid going to the wrong person.

However, you may want to remember that each person is different. This means that a counselor that worked for a friend or family member might not be the best fit for you, and vice versa.

Options for free counseling services 

If you’re struggling to find affordable counseling, there may be several free options to consider. 

If you’re in school, counselors are usually available for you to meet with, either for free or at a very affordable price. You can talk to the administration office to see what options are available for you.

Many cities and counties in the U.S. also provide health clinics where you can get free or low-cost mental health services. You can check with your local healthcare center to see what kind of services they provide.

You can also check with local religious organizations in your area. Many churches have pastors who provide free counseling to members and others in the community. You can check with your local church to see what services are available. If they can’t help you, they might be able to point you in the right direction. However, it can be important to understand that many pastors have not received the same level of training in counseling as licensed mental health professionals.

The option of online therapy

What happens if you don’t have a good option in your area? Or, what if you can’t afford the counseling services near you? 

Online therapy can remove the physical limitation of working with a counselor in your area. You can find a mental health professional who’s a great fit for you regardless of where each of you is located. This can also help if you’re doing couples therapy and are in a long-distance relationship.

Online therapy services can also be more affordable than in-person sessions. You don’t typically have to wait long before you can get an appointment. 

As this study explains, online therapy generally has the same efficacy as traditional in-person therapy. Please don’t hesitate to reach out and get the help you deserve if you feel you’d benefit from working with a licensed therapist!