Mental health awareness has been growing in recent times and it seems ads for online therapy services are everywhere you turn. While it is becoming more socially acceptable to attend therapy, and the proliferation of teletherapy services has increased, it can be hard to know where to start and who to trust.
While cost is a factor and more people are relying upon their health insurance for in-network provided, finding a competent therapist who is in-network with your insurance is an important consideration.
8 Step Guide to Find a Therapist Who Takes Insurance
- Be Specific About Your Mental Health Needs – Start with what you are looking for, whether that’s relief from anxiety, depression or grief or help with making a life change, zero in on and name what you are hoping to accomplish or gain from therapy. If you feel a vague sense such as, “I just want to be happier”, take some time to reflect upon what you define as happiness, what it actually feels like to be unhappy and what you feel is missing and what you feel is blocking your way of reaching happiness. Clarifying as specifically as possible what you are seeking will help guide you towards therapists who treat the very issues you seek help with.
- Check Your Insurance Provider’s Listing – Your health insurance provider can be a valuable resource when looking for an in-network therapist. Once you have a better idea of what you are looking to gain from therapy, you can consult with your health insurance company for a list of therapists in your vicinity and whose services would be covered by your health insurance. The challenge with insurance companies’ listing of providers is that it may not specify what a particular therapist’s area of focus is. Yet, it is important to start with your health insurance provider so you can also learn if there are any specific requirements or limitations, such as number of sessions covered or any pre-authorization requirements. Here are a few links for you: Cigna Healthfirst Aetna Metroplus
- Internet Therapist Directories Can Be Invaluable – The internet is a treasure trove of information when it comes to finding therapists in your area. Websites like Psychology Today, GoodTherapy or Zencare are reputable therapists directories that enable you to refine your search by the type of insurance, therapist focus and similar criteria.
- Seek Recommendations – Word-of-mouth suggestions can be a powerful tool for finding a therapist who is not only in-network with your health insurance but who are vetted by people you feel respect for. Reaching out to friends, family members or other healthcare professionals for referrals such as your primary care doctor can guide a more productive search. They may be able to provide valuable insight based on their own experiences of those people they know and have found to be helpful for them.
- Consider the Differences Between Virtual Therapy and In-Person Therapy – In today’s digital age, therapy doesn’t have to be restricted to traditional face-to-face sessions. While virtual therapy offers unparalleled convenience and even an increased sense of safety, in-person sessions can provide a richer interactional field and can feel like and be a more effective way to work. With that said, if you are seeking to work with an in-network therapist, it is important to confirm whether your insurance plan covers virtual therapy sessions and any limits or specifications that may differ for virtual therapy.
- Meet With More Than One Therapist – At the heart of what can be most curative in therapy lies in the type and quality of the therapeutic relationship you cultivate with your therapist. As such, it is important to “shop around” and meet with at least two if not three different therapists to see how you feel with each one. Choosing the right therapist for you can take time and trusting your gut for how to feel with each potential therapist is an important determining factor.
- Verify Your Insurance Benefits – Just because a potential therapist may be in-network with your insurance that doesn’t necessarily translate into zero cost for you. Once you find a therapist, you will want to ask both the therapist and your insurance provider to confirm details such as deductibles, copayments and any of any out-of-pocket expenses that may exist. Understanding the financial aspect upfront can help prevent surprises down the road.
- Practice Patience and Persistence – Finding a therapist that aligns with your preferences can take effort, but it’s a worthwhile investment in your mental health journey to make and take the time. Be persistent in your search and don’t hesitate to ask questions or seek clarification along the way. Remember that the right therapist is out there. With perseverance you will find them.
The team at Bhava Therapy Group is dedicated to helping you find the support you need on your path to healing and self discovery. Our team of experienced therapists is committed to providing personalized and compassionate care that meets your unique needs while working with different insurance networks. Your mental health matters and finding the right therapist is a crucial step for his prioritizing it. Let us be part of your healing journey.
References
Abramowitz, J.S. & Buchholz, J.L. (2020). The therapeutic alliance in exposure therapy for anxiety-related disorders: A critical review. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 70.
Benson, N. M., & Song, Z. (2020). Prices and cost sharing for psychotherapy in network versus out of network in the United States: Study examines out-of-network and in-network trends in the prices and use of ambulatory behavioral health care in the United States. Health Affairs, 39(7), 1210-1218.
Lutz, W., de Jong, K., Rubel, J. A., & Delgadillo, J. (2021). Measuring, predicting, and tracking change in psychotherapy. Bergin and Garfield’s handbook of psychotherapy and behavior change, 7, 89-133.
