“Is There A Depression Therapist Near Me?” Finding A Mental Health Provider

Medically reviewed by Katrice Hollins, LCSW, LICSW
Updated November 26, 2024by Regain Editorial Team
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It can be difficult to find the right therapist for depression when you don’t know what to look for. This article will explore 10 things you will want to consider when looking for a therapist to treat your depression, including your goals and expectations, your therapist’s background and credentials, what kind of out-of-pocket expenses you’ll be expected to pay, and whether they practice in-person or online.

“How can I find the right depression therapist near me?” Ten things to consider

Depression is a serious mental health challenge—but it is also a treatable one. A depression therapist can help you identify the sources of your symptoms, address comorbid mental health concerns, and develop effective coping strategies.  The following are 10 things to consider when searching for a depression therapist near you.

1. What am I hoping to get out of my sessions?

In most cases, you should consider what you want to get out of therapy in terms of results before starting therapy sessions, but it's okay if you don't know the answer. If you're depressed, you may want to regain control of your emotional wellbeing and feel better. 

Going into your treatment with a clear idea of what you want to achieve can help your therapist know what area to focus on to help you get your desired results.

2. Am I comfortable with this mental health professional?

You should be comfortable with your therapist, but you may not know who you're comfortable with until you have already met with them once or twice. To account for this, you may check to see if your therapist choices offer a complimentary session to see how you fit together.

If you find that you feel uncomfortable with your therapist, find a new one to work with. Don't feel like you need to give them any explanation; most therapists will understand if you decide to move forward with another provider. Their goal is to help you get the best treatment for you, and they may be able to recommend you to someone else.

3. What kind of experience do they have?

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Talk therapists are a diverse group of professionals. Different therapists specialize in different types of mental health treatments, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), or interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT). These types of therapy may be more, or less, effective at treating different disorders. According to the American Psychological Association (APA), the most effective types of therapy for depression include cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, interpersonal psychotherapy, and psychodynamic therapy.

Additionally, some psychotherapists will treat a wide range of disorders and mental health challenges, while others may choose to specialize in one or two highly specific areas of mental health. For example, some therapists may specialize in working with clients who have substance use disorders, while another might focus on challenges facing the LGBTQIA+ community, and some might have specialized training in eating disorders and anxiety. If you're looking for a therapist for depression, you should try to find one that is experienced in treating people with depressive symptoms.

It can also be helpful to find out how long a therapist has been practicing; it's not that a new therapist will not help you, but you may feel more confident working with someone that has been in the field longer and has more experience. If you choose to go the route of working with a new therapist, you may want to find one working with a clinical supervisor with more experience. This can help give the therapist more confidence because they know that they have someone to turn to with any questions.

4. What credentials do they hold?

People refer to many different types of mental health professionals as therapists, including marriage and family therapists, social workers, psychiatrists, psychologists, and school counselors. When you're looking for a mental health professional to work with, it’s a good idea to understand what credentials they have. This can help you understand what type of treatment they will be able to offer you.

For example, psychiatrists are generally known for prescribing medication such as antidepressants to help you with your symptoms. While they can do psychotherapy, many choose to refer that type of service out to a psychologist. Understanding your needs will help you look at the credentials and determine who the right professional is for you.

You can find out what credentials a therapist has by looking at the letters that follow their name. 

5. Where are they located?

When you're experiencing symptoms of depression, the thought of getting out of bed, getting dressed, and driving across the city can feel overwhelming. This is why it's helpful to choose a therapist located close by. You may also have insurance to consider, which might mean choosing from a limited list of local providers. 

More specialized providers may be worth traveling to see. Consider what sort of time and budget you are willing to commit to traveling for treatment.

6. How much does a therapy session cost?

With mental health challenges such as depression, it can be difficult to predict how many sessions you're going to need with a therapist. If the sessions are not affordable to you, it may be more likely that you will cancel them instead of keeping them. 

The cost of therapy is one of the major hurdles many people face in getting treatment for depression and other mental health disorders. Before you choose a therapist to work with, find out how much their per session cost is and if there's a different price for the initial session. Many times, the initial session is going to be more money than the ones that follow.

A few things that you should consider when looking at the cost include your health insurance company and any special pricing options. For example, some therapists will offer sliding scale fees, lowering the cost for people based on their annual income and dependents.

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7. How many therapy sessions will I need to attend to see improvement?

As mentioned above, it can be difficult to estimate how many therapy sessions you will need when you're struggling with depression. There are different types of therapy and treatments that can last different amounts of time. If you're wondering how many sessions you will need, talk to your therapist to see what they recommend.

8. Does the therapist provide any options for communication between sessions?

A therapist may want to meet with you every week, or it may be that there's more time in between sessions. This may mean that you have questions or concerns that go unaddressed for long stretches of time between sessions. 

Ensure that you ask what type of options the therapist offers if you need to reach out to them in between sessions.

9. Do I need to involve anyone else in my therapy sessions?

There may be times in your life when you need to include other people in your therapy sessions. For example, if you're dating or married and struggling with depression, it can be helpful to have a few sessions with your partner. 

Ask your therapist what their policies and procedures are for bringing in additional guests to your therapy sessions.

10. Will I follow through on going to appointments?

Depression can rob you of your motivation to do what you know is best for you, including seeking help by going to therapy. So, before you choose a therapist to work with, make sure you consider if you're really going to follow through with your appointments.

Get support with online therapy

If you feel like you're likely to continue to cancel them, using the reasoning of travel overwhelm or similar barriers, online counseling could be a better fit for you. Online therapy can make treatment more accessible for those with depression and other mental health conditions by allowing them to seek treatment from the comfort of home.

“What if I can’t find a depression therapist near me?” Online therapy for depression

It’s also been proven to be just as effective as in-person therapeutic treatment. This means that you don’t need to worry about losing quality with online sessions or providers for the sake of accessibility or convenience.

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Takeaway

Depression is something that a combination of treatments can best overcome. What works the best for you may not be the same thing that works for someone else. Talking with a therapist about your depression can be the right step to getting you on the path to recovery.

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