How to Find the Right Therapist in Austin: A Comprehensive Guide

Relationship CounselingGender & LGBTQQIABreakups & DivorceSex Therapy

Feb 24

Finding the right therapist can feel like a daunting task, but it's an important one. Therapy can be an invaluable tool for addressing a variety of mental health concerns and relationship issues, such as anxiety, infidelity, relationship conflict, and gender issues. However, it’s important to find a therapist who is sufficiently qualified and experienced in treating the type of issue that you are experiencing. Most importantly, finding a therapist who is also a good fit for you is essential.

Sometimes, we all need a little support. So, whether you are looking for a counselor, therapist, psychologist, or life coach, I’d like to help you find the right person to help you. I created this five-part blog series to provide you with a comprehensive guide to finding the right therapist in Austin.

In this series, we will take an in-depth look at the myriad of things to consider when choosing a therapist. We’ll cover:

8 Essential Questions to Ask Before You Choose a Therapist

Frequently Asked Questions About Therapy

What to Expect in a Therapy Session

Therapy Myths and Truths

By the end of this series, you will have a better understanding of how to find a therapist who is just right for you. But first, I have a few tips to get you started on your search!

Here are some questions to ask yourself before you start contacting potential therapists. These questions will help you to understand your own needs, and therefore who is best placed to meet those needs as your therapist.

1. Why am I seeking a therapist?

It helps to have an idea of why you are seeking treatment. Out of control anxiety? There are specialists for that! Sexual anxiety? There are specialists for that too! But it’s also perfectly okay if you are not quite sure at this stage. The right therapist can help you make sense of your current situation and help you figure out where to start.

Knowing what you might hope to get out of therapy can help you identify a therapist who has experience in your area of concern. It can also help the therapist to give you some indication of the style or duration of treatment that they could offer.

2. What kind of therapist would suit me best?

Therapists come in many different varieties! It’s a good idea to consider if you would feel more comfortable with a particular age or gender. You might also prefer someone with a specific religious or cultural background.

Another consideration is the style of therapy that will be offered. Would you prefer someone with a more or less direct style of communication? Are you looking for someone with specific knowledge, or even personal experience? Are you happy to be given homework to further your progress outside of the sessions?

All of these considerations are very personal and meaningful to you as an individual, and only you can decide if you need to seek someone with specific characteristics. If so, this can be an important factor in deciding which therapist feels “right” to work with.

3. Is their location important?

The location and type of therapy can be helpful to consider. Some people would like to work with a therapist in their neighborhood. Others would prefer a therapist closer to their work. Or maybe you live in Cedar Park, TX, work in Round Rock, TX, but you prefer a therapist in Austin, TX.

Alternatively, you might prefer online sessions, with or without the option to meet face-to-face sometimes.

4. Is their schedule or availability important?

Have you thought about when or how often you would like to meet with your therapist?

Some therapists work nights and weekends, while others may work only during school hours. Some therapists work part-time while others are full-time.

Knowing your availability and any flexibility you might have can help you to identify someone who meets your needs.

Melissa Hargrave keeps a fairly regular schedule of Monday through Friday, 8 am to 4 pm.

5. Does their billing model work for me?

Consider whether you will be using insurance in or out of the network. Some insurance panels will reimburse you a percentage of the cost of therapy if your therapist can provide a Superbill.

How to Start Your Search for a Therapist in Austin

Congratulations, you’ve made a start! Just thinking about finding the right therapist is a step toward your goals.

Once you’ve spent some time considering your answers to these questions, you’ll be ready to start searching for your therapist. I always recommend making a short list of several therapists and then making time to contact them one by one. Many will offer a shorter, initial consultation, and this provides a great opportunity to see how you feel about that person and how well they can meet your individual needs.

If you feel that I may be the right person to help you, I would love to offer you a free initial session – more on that below …

In my next blog post in this series, I’m going to share some important questions that you can ask a potential therapist to get a real sense of whether they are right for you.

But first, I have one final consideration for you.

The key to successful therapy comes down to the relationship between you and your therapist.

Remember that you are the best person to decide who is right for you, so try not to get overwhelmed when trying to choose who to work with.

Credentials and experience are important when it comes to therapy, and of course, the logistics need to work for you. But ultimately, the right therapist for you will be one that makes you feel safe, respected, and heard, and one that shares your goals for therapy.

You are the expert on your own needs, and you deserve to find a therapist who aligns with them.

Start Your Healing Journey with a Free Therapy Consultation

If you are stuck or have more questions that need answers, please call me! I am here for you. I am happy to hear what is happening and to help you find the right person. If you are looking for individual counseling, couples counseling, sex therapy, or group therapy, you can read more about how I can help here:

https://www.hillcountrytherapy.com/

That’s right, I’m offering you a free therapy consultation! So don’t be shy, ask for one!

Many therapists offer 15-20 minute free consultations to determine if we are a good fit. That goes both ways! Some people skip the free consult and use our first session to decide if we are a good fit. That’s okay too! Whatever works for you. (Note: your first session is NOT free. I am trained in single-session therapy and one session can offer much help!)

Author: Melissa Hargrave MS, LMFT-S, LPC-S