Here are 7 simple steps to find a psychologist

We can use these steps to find a specialist. For example, to find a psychologist that specializes in cognitive behavior therapy (or CBT):

1. If you plan to use your health insurance to help to pay for therapy: Get out your insurance card, and find the “mental (or behavioral) health” telephone number (usually on the back of your health insurance card).
2. Call your insurance company.
3. Ask for the names of TEN (10) psychologists that offer Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), for example, for depression, anxiety, substance use disorders. You want 10 names, because some psychologists may no longer accept your health insurance, some may not be accepting new patients, some may not return your call right away, etc.
4. If you would like, you can search the internet to see if the psychologist has a website. This is a good way to learn about the practice, the types of treatment offered, the types of patients seen, the location and hours, payments accepted, etc. Some psychologists even offer the option of scheduling online!
5. Call each psychologist and request a 5 – 10 minute phone call to discuss what types of patients (and/or problems) he or she typically treats. This is not the time for a long conversation about your problem(s). This phone call is to get a general idea of the psychologist’s type and amount of experience. It is also a good way for you to determine if you and the psychologist make a good “fit” for therapy, and to talk about payment options (insurance versus self-pay, etc).
6. If you feel comfortable, feel free to schedule your first appointment!
7. After you hang up (or book your first appointment online), congratulate yourself for taking excellent care of yourself!

That’s all there is to it! Congratulations on your commitment to your health!

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