Where Can I Find A Couples Therapist Near Me?
Medically Reviewed By Nicole Gaines, LPCCouples Therapists: Where Are They?
Finding a couples therapist isn't necessarily a piece of cake. It can be challenging to locate a therapist in your area, and you may be asking yourself, "where can I find a therapist near me?" Whether you're looking for an individual therapist, a couples therapist, or a marriage and family therapist, sometimes it's not so straightforward to find the person you're looking for, and you are not alone. Many people struggle with the same issue. You would think it would be effortless to find a therapist.
There are numerous people with Ph.D.'s, MSW's MA's, and PsyDs, and then that doesn't even include the different types of licenses and certifications. But it can be hard to find a therapist that practices the kind of treatment you're looking for and particularly one who's in your area.
You can do if you have insurance to search through your insurance provider's therapists' listings and see which ones are in your area. You'll likely find many individual therapists, but it's more challenging to find these providers when it comes to couples therapists. You may find some people that see couples. Still, then another issue arises: you need to find a couples therapist that both you and your partner feel comfortable talking to because you will be seeing that person once a week or every other week, typically.
What To Look For In A Therapist
Finding the right therapist isn't the same as finding a general physician or another doctor type. They all tend to specialize in certain areas, so you know what you are getting when searching. However, many different people can call themselves a therapist. You can see a psychologist, psychotherapist, counselor, social worker, coach, or religious leader. All of these people might be offering some form of "therapy."
This is why it's important to look for someone that specializes in couples therapy. Just because someone is a licensed therapist doesn't mean that they have the same experience as others. For example, if a therapist focuses on working with patients with personality disorders and you go to see them for help with your relationship, it's not going to be the best fit. They may know many of the strategies that can be used for therapy, but it's not the area they are really focused on.
You want to work with a therapist that is focused on relationships. This means they will be investing their time and learning into the area you seek help. Some therapists are even certified in family and marriage counseling. These are the types of therapists that you will want to find.
Can We All Get Along?
When you're in individual therapy, you get to decide as to whether you like your provider or not. There is nobody else that gets to determine which therapist you see. When you're going to couples therapy, it's a different story. You might find a couples therapist near where you live, and you like that provider a lot. They take your insurance, and you're excited to work with that person. Everything seems excellent, but then you and your partner meet with the couples therapist, and your partner decides they don't like that person.
What do you do now? Everything was going along so well you were hustling to find a therapist near you. And now your partner doesn't like that person. It seems like there's always something challenging when it comes to getting mental health treatment. It's vital that both you and your partner feel comfortable with the couples therapist because if one doesn't like that person, the experience will not be productive.
Both of you must feel like the couples therapist is objective and is not taking sides. Both people in the couple need to trust the couple's therapist who is treating them. If one of the couple members feels like there's a personal bias toward them from their provider, then the therapy sessions won't help the couple heal, and now you're back to square one trying to find "a therapist near me."
Now, if you have found many different therapists to work with and your partner has found a problem with all of them, it could be that they are just being resistant to attending therapy. If you believe this is the case, ask them about it. If they deny, then allow them to take control of finding a therapist and see what they come up with. And now you're back to square one trying to find "a therapist near me."
Referrals
Sometimes it's not necessary to see a therapist who is close to where you love. It's more about the quality of the provider. You might consider asking people you know who they see for therapy. That way, you can get a referral.
You might not want to see the same therapist as a friend. You can ask that therapist to recommend another provider who they think is excellent. It's always good to get a referral when looking for a healthcare provider; you want to make sure that you're seeing someone who provides quality care.
It's better to do this than go in blind and randomly choose a provider of your insurance company's listings. It's not the worst idea to select a provider from the insurance company's website, but if you can get a personal reference, you know that the provider you're going to see is someone among the best. It's ideal for getting recommendations if you can.
But what if you live somewhere that isn't densely populated? It's much harder to find a couples therapist if you live in a rural area where there aren't many mental health providers. That's when you run into trouble finding an adequate couples therapist.
Remote Areas
It can be troublesome to find a therapist in your local area if you live in a place that doesn't have a large population. Add in the fact that you're a couple seeking therapy for the two of you. It could be even more challenging. There may be a limited number of providers, and practicing therapy might know everybody in your town. So you don't necessarily want your business spread around town, and that can be a challenge if you're living somewhere with a small population.
So what do you do? What are your options? You could see a therapist that knows your cousin or your uncle or your brother or friends of yours. That's not necessarily the best idea if you want to maintain your privacy.
You could drive to the city that has a more extensive selection of mental health providers. But maybe that's not convenient for you. It's a long haul for you and your partner to drive an hour away to see a couple's therapists and an hour back. We all lead busy lives, and factoring in a two-hour drive once a week isn't entirely realistic and frankly sounds exhausting to see a couples therapist. It might even put more strain on your relationship. Another option is seeing an online couples therapist.
Online Couples Therapy
As a couple, you want to get the most helpful treatment in couples therapy. But if you can't find a local therapist, you could consider seeing an online couples counselor. There may not be a therapist near you that can provide couples counseling, and that's OK because online counseling for couples is a great alternative.
When you're having trouble finding a therapist in your local area because you live in a remote place or maybe the kind of therapy you're looking for, there aren't many providers who consider trying online therapy.
Online therapy is a convenient alternative to seeing a therapist in the office. You will find that sessions tend to be more intimate at times than in-person therapy. You can meet with your therapist in the privacy of your home, office, or even a coffee shop if you're more comfortable there. There are issues that you may discuss with a couples counselor that are sensitive topics. That's why a meeting in a place where you feel safe and secure is essential. It's necessary to feel comfortable when you're discussing private information about yourself and your partner.
When Is The Right Time To Go To Couples Therapy?
As you research how to find the right couples therapist, you may also be wondering if it's even the right time to go to therapy. Any time is the right time to go if you have questions, problems, or feel that something like communication could be improved.
Some couples think they need to wait to go to therapy until they are on the brink of separating, but that's not true. The sooner you can get in to see a therapist, the sooner you can start to see the improvement in your relationship that you're looking for. Please don't wait until it's too late. The sooner you go, the fewer things that you can have to work through.
And remember, if your partner is unwilling to give couples therapy a try, you can still benefit from going to therapy on your own. Your therapist can help you learning important skills to use to improve your relationship.
Try Online Couples Counseling At Regain
Online couples therapy can be an excellent way for you and your partner to work out problems between you. We all live busy lives, and online treatment is exceptionally convenient and can be accessed anywhere there is a reliable Internet connection.
You can talk with your counselor via video chat, messaging, or phone. It's up to you what works best for you and your partner, as well as your counselor. If you're thinking about trying online therapy, search through the counselors at Regain.us and find one who is best for you and your partner.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS)
How Much Does A Couples Therapist Cost?
The cost of couples therapy will vary on several factors, such as the provider you see, but it can span up to around $250.00 or more per session in the absence of insurance. That said, many people can't cover that amount, and there are a wide variety of cost-effective solutions for those in a position where they cannot cover the cost in full. Online counseling is far more affordable, with plans on websites like ReGain starting at as low as $60/session. You may also consider seeing a provider who offers affordable or sliding scale rates. If you have access to an employee assistance program through your job, that is another option.
What Is The Best Therapy For Couples?
Several excellent and well-researched couples therapy forms are known to be successful modalities of support and treatment for couples. Emotionally focused therapy, or EFT, for example, has a very high success rate. If you are seeking couples therapy, emotionally focused therapy is an excellent option to try. Statistics indicate that 90% of couples who received EFT benefited from it, and 70-75% moved into relationship recovery.
The Gottman Method is another well-known form of couples therapy with a high success rate. While these modalities differ, they're both advantageous for couples. That said, it's hard to say what the "best couples therapy" modality is because the best couples therapy will vary from couple to couple. The best couples therapy for you will depend largely on you and your partner or spouse as well as what you're looking for.
Not only will one type of couples therapy resonate with you more than others in many cases, but different providers will resonate with different people, so if you don't think that the first therapist or counselor you see is someone who can help you and your partner with what you're going through, it's important to switch so that you can get the help that you need. The same is true for different modalities. Also, consider that different providers have different specialties and that some focus on specific demographics to provide care that's more catered to clients they see.
Is Couples Therapy Covered By Health Insurance?
In most cases, couples therapy is not covered by health insurance. However, there are some scenarios where insurance may cover your sessions with a provider for couples counseling. To lower the therapy cost you pay, you may consider seeing a couples therapist online. You may also search for a provider such as a marriage and family therapist in your area who offers couples counseling at a sliding scale rate or use other methods to help cover your therapy cost, such as an employee assistance program. Community centers and religious institutions such as churches are other options.
How Do I Find A Good Couples Therapist?
The best couples therapist will vary from couple to couple, and there are various ways to find a good fit for you. First, make sure that you always see a licensed provider such as a marriage and family therapist who is authorized to practice in your state.
Marriage and family therapists don't just offer couples counseling and family therapy; they see individuals in some cases. Make sure to find someone who takes couples for clients. It can help look into a provider's specialty, which refers to something that a specific provider, whether a marriage and family therapist or someone with another title, specializes in. If you know what you want, make it clear in your search.
What To Do When You Can't Afford Couples Therapy?
There are various options if you want to see a provider for marriage and family therapy, couples counseling, individual counseling, or any other counseling form. Here are some ways to see someone for marriage and family therapy, couples counseling, individual counseling, or even group counseling for free or for a more affordable cost:
- Go to a community center with licensed providers for counseling.
- Call your insurance company and see who they cover in your area.
- If applicable, check with a religious institution to see if they have any resources.
- See someone who offers clients a sliding scale rate.
- Look into scholarships or vouchers for marriage and family therapy or counseling.
- Call 211 and see if they know of any resources in your area.
- Try an online counseling site with marriage and family therapists like ReGain that offers affordable payment options.
How Much Is The Average Therapy Session?
Seeing a provider such as a licensed marriage and family therapist for marriage and family therapy or a couples therapy typically costs somewhere from $150.00 to $200.00 or more if you do not have insurance covering part of your therapy cost. According to the National Directory of Marriage and Family Counseling, the average cost per session is $100.00. If you have insurance and see a provider such as a marriage and family therapist, a licensed professional counselor, or a licensed clinical social worker who takes your insurance, you will only have to pay a copay, which will lower the amount you spend out of pocket, often significantly. Some mental health professionals offer sliding scale rates, work at clinics that provide clients with affordable options, or take Medicaid, which may cover the cost of therapy in full. Online counseling is another affordable option.
Is It Worth Going To Couples Counseling?
Many people who see a couple of therapists find that it's worth it, and there are studies to show it. People may attend marriage and family therapy, couples counseling, individual counseling, and so on for a variety of reasons. Couples counseling, in particular, can help couples with a number of concerns, including but not limited to trouble with communication, infidelity, understanding, stress, connection, and so much more.
Can Couples Counseling Save Relationships?
With statistics to show it, couples counseling has a high success rate and can indeed save relationships. Again, many couples who see a provider such as a marriage and family therapist benefit from it. If the first provider you see for marriage and family therapy, individual counseling, or any other form of counseling isn't the best fit, don't be afraid to take steps to switch or find someone else.
It's natural that not every provider will be the best couples therapist for every couple, so consider narrowing your search when looking for a provider to include the specific attributes you're looking for, switching providers if you need to, or are using an online therapy website with licensed providers such as marriage and family therapist who use a questionnaire like the one on ReGain to help you find the best couples therapist for you.
To find a provider, you may search the web for providers offering marriage and family therapy, get a referral to someone who practices marriage and family therapy or sign up for an online therapy company that works with licensed providers.
