Finding Therapy Near Me: 3 Tips To Get Started

Maybe you’ve been thinking about getting some mental health support. It can be a bit of a tricky situation, though. The reason you’re seeking help might be an obstacle to getting it. You might feel anxious about your first appointment, even if you’re seeking guidance on managing anxiety. Or depression can make it hard to muster up the motivation to take the first step to find a therapist.

A lot of people benefit from a little nudge to get started with therapy. Just telling someone to search “therapy near me” online isn’t very helpful. If you’ve felt overwhelmed with the early steps required to get mental health support, you’re in the right place. Our team developed a few actionable tips that can help you get over that hurdle.

#1: Explore your options

Like most kinds of medical care, therapy comes in a lot of different forms. You can get cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which focuses on helping you unlearn negative thought patterns. A lot of talk therapy (what you probably picture when you think of going to therapy) uses CBT.

But that’s not your only option. You can also explore alternative mental health support like art therapy or group sessions. If you’re looking for support with a specific relationship, you might benefit from couples counseling or interpersonal therapy. If you’re struggling at work or with finding work, career counseling is probably a really good fit.

If you want to do a deeper dive into any of the types of therapy available to you, Psychology Today has thorough starter guides you can use.

Here, it helps to think about the kind of help you want. Do you want to break a pattern that’s hurting you, or get help navigating your relationship with a particular person or group of people? What’s your goal for therapy?

Once you know that, talk to a mental health pro. They can help match you with the right kind of care. Our intake coordinator, for example, is available to offer this kind of guidance. You can reach us at (818) 758-9450 or info@westvalleycounseling.org to get started.

#2: Learn what to expect

Fear of the unknown is a big and common obstacle to starting therapy. To help alleviate that, we have a guide that covers what to expect at your first appointment.

From there, your therapist will tailor a treatment plan to you. They’ll recommend a specific cadence for your appointments (e.g., weekly, bi-weekly). They might suggest additional tools you can do during sessions or on your own, like art therapy or body work (i.e., somatic therapy). You’ll get a much clearer idea of what therapy will look like for you after you meet with your therapist a few times.

It can also be helpful to know that you won’t necessarily be in therapy forever. The American Psychological Association says that about half of people get the relief they’re seeking with about 15–20 sessions.

#3: If at first you don’t succeed…

Finding a therapist is a little like dating. You might not click with the first person you meet. It takes work to find the right connection, but most people report it’s definitely worth it.

If you have a few sessions with your therapist and it’s not working for you, don’t be afraid to part ways and try someone else.

That doesn’t mean you need to go back to the drawing board of googling “therapy near me.” At the West Valley Counseling Center, we have multiple therapists on staff so we can rematch you with someone else who might be a better fit.

We’re here to help you navigate all of this. For support in getting started with therapy, call us, email us, or use our online form to request a call back whenever you’re ready.