How to Find a Therapist in Miami
Miami is a fun city to live in. We have sunshine, music, great food, art, culture and more! But sometimes the magic city doesn’t always feel so… magical. Real life is not always fun, and when life gets challenging, we all need support to get through these hard times. Therapy can be a great resource during those times and there are plenty of options when looking for therapists in Miami. But, where do you start?
Finding the Right Therapist Can Make a Big Difference in Your Journey
If you are considering starting therapy, it’s important to find a therapist you can connect with. Research actually shows that the therapeutic relationship is one of the most important things in counseling! The good news? There are tons of therapists in Miami which means you are more likely to find one you connect with. The bad news? It can feel super overwhelming to start!
Below, I have listed some helpful tips to get you started on your search and find the right therapist for you.
Why Are You Coming to Therapy?
The first thing is to think about what you are getting therapy for. If you are having trouble with anxiety or depression, you may want to look for therapists who specialize in those conditions. If you are having issues related to sexuality or gender, then finding a therapist with training and expertise about the LGBTQ+ community would be appropriate. If you know something is wrong, but aren’t really sure what it is you are looking for, ask yourself these questions:
Why have I been thinking about therapy?
What am I hoping to get out of counseling?
If my problems were gone tomorrow, what would be different?
Why am I thinking about going to therapy now?
What’s Most Important for You Logistically?
There are so many therapists available in Miami these days, all with their own set of specifications. Before you get started on your search, you may find it helpful to write a list of what is most important to you when picking a therapist.
For example, your list can include:
Cost per session (Some therapists offer low or sliding scale rates based on financial need)
If they take your insurance
The therapist’s availability/schedule
Telehealth vs In-Person Sessions
Proximity to work, school, or home
By making this list you can prioritize what is most important to you when you begin your search.
Where Do You Find Therapists in Miami?
Now that you’ve done some background work on what type of therapist you are looking for, you can begin searching through the available options.
If you are going to use insurance or your Employee Assistance Program (EAP), you can reach out to them and ask for a list of covered therapists in your area. You can also use Google, or any other search engine, to find “therapists near me,” but you may not be able to sort through the results easily.
Thankfully, there are directories available that you can search and filter through to make your search more focused. Directories like Psychology Today, Open Path and TherapyDen all let you filter results based on certain criteria (insurance, specialty, etc..).
Another option is to ask your friends or family who they recommend (if you feel comfortable doing so). Just remember, the best therapist for you could be different than the best therapist for someone else. If you both feel comfortable, you can ask them specifically what they liked about that therapist to get a better idea of their style.
While going through these options, make sure to write a list of your top choices for the next step!
Ok, I Have a List of Therapists in Miami. Now What?
Now that you have a list of some potential therapists, it’s time to reach out to them. This is the time to “shop around” and get a feel for your top choices before committing to one. Often times, you can get a lot of information from their website. If a therapist offers a free consultation before meeting with them, do it!
During this consultation, you have the chance to get a feel for their style and whether you “click.” You can also ask them questions like:
What experience do they have with your particular concerns?
How often do they usually meet with clients?
What are their fees, cancellation policies, financial aid options?
Do they have available appointments that work with your schedule?
If you’ve done therapy in the past, now is also a good time to let them know what worked or didn’t work with your previous therapists. While this process seems daunting, it’s worth spending some extra time now to help make sure you end up with a good fit in the end. Once you get started with a therapist, if you find that after a month or so you are not clicking, it may be time to move on to one of the other options on your list.
Final Words
Finding the best therapist for you can be a challenge, especially in a city like Miami where there are tons of options. At the same time, finding the best fit can be hugely rewarding. Therapy is a safe, nonjudgmental space for you to grow and cope with your issues and when you find the right therapist it makes a big difference in your journey.
As a reminder, I am a therapist in Miami with both in-person and online sessions (for any Florida resident). To find out more about my specialties, click here. If you find yourself needing therapy at this time, it’s easy to set up a free 15-minute consultation with me here. Best of luck on your journey!
