You’re looking for a therapist and google “find a therapist near me.” Maybe you’re being more specific with your needs like anxiety, depression or trauma in your search. What seems like a plethora of therapists turns out to be a frustrating search. There are several factors that contribute to this experience.
Availability: Sometimes professionals don’t update where they are listed that they are no longer taking new clients. The Consolidated Appropriations Act requires insurance companies to reach out to providers to update their directory entry every 90 days, otherwise, the entry is suppressed. But, it is up to the clinicians to provide updates to their availability in other listings like therapist.com, Psychology Today or their own website.
Demand: Especially since the pandemic, therapists are in higher demand. Some areas like rural areas just don’t have enough therapists to meet the needs of their community. Overall, we know there are not enough therapists to help the number of people seeking therapy.
Populations: Some populations have even less therapists serving them. Finding a child or adolescent client can be more challenging. If the search is for a very specific problem, like an eating disorder, there are less therapists who have the training and background to treat that person.
Cost: Ideally, people would like to utilize their insurance to help cover the cost of therapy. Less and less therapists are taking insurance. This can be cost prohibitive for many people.
This list is not exhaustive. If you are seeking a therapist, I am available and I do take insurance. Check out my website to see if I might be a good fit for your needs.
Be well!
These opinions are solely my own.
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