How to Find A Therapist in Chicago

Learn how to find a therapist in Chicago or anywhere using this step by step approach

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Internet Connection
• Telephone
• Pen
• Paper

1. To find a therapist in the Chicago or for that matter anywhere is not all that difficult. In fact, therapists in large cities like Chicago are plentiful. Once the decision has been made to find a therapist, your next step is to begin a therapist search. You will want someone who is trained and experienced in dealing with the problems you are having, as well as someone with whom you feel comfortable and who has fees you can afford. Finding a therapist in may take some time and effort, but good results from therapy depend a lot on working with the right counseling professional.

2. Because looking for a therapist usually is a private, personal experience, your best and perhaps most confidential search tool will be the Internet. Using a search engine, such as Google, you can input something like the following into the search box: "Chicago Therapist". Again, this is just an example. If you live in another city, you will want to input your home town.

3. Once you have found a few therapists online, be sure to visit each of their website to determine:
   
   * Does the therapist have experience with the issue you are looking to get help with?
   
   * Does the counselor have a certain counseling approach? If so, what is it?
   
   * Will the therapist accept your insurance?
   
   * What are the psychotherapists hours of availability?
   
   * Does the therapist seem warm and caring?
   
   The two main kinds of mental health treatment are talk therapies and medication therapies. Talk therapies and medication therapies can reduce depression, anxiety, and troubling feelings and behaviors. Medications address the biological and chemical aspects of mental illnesses. Talk therapies can teach you to make changes in the ways you relate to other people. They can also help you learn to understand and manage symptoms and cope effectively with stress.

Tips & Warnings

• Here are some additional tips that relate to various titles of therapists:
• Psychiatrists: These are doctors who specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of mental or psychiatric illnesses. They have medical training and are licensed to prescribe drugs. They are also trained in psychotherapy, or "talk" therapy, which aims to change a person's behaviors or thought patterns.
• Psychologists: These are doctoral degree (PhD or PsyD) experts in psychology. They study the human mind and human behavior and are also trained in counseling, psychotherapy, and psychological testing -- which can help uncover emotional problems you may not realize you have.
• Social Workers: These are specialists that provide social services in health-related settings that now are governed by managed care organizations. Their goal is to enhance and maintain a person's psychological and social functioning -- they provide empathy and counseling on interpersonal problems. Social workers help people function at their best in their environment, and they help people deal with relationships and solve personal and family problems.
• Licensed Professional Counselors. These counselors are required by state licensure laws to have at least a master's degree in counseling and 3,000 hours of post-master's experience. They are either licensed or certified to independently diagnose and treat mental and emotional disorders, says W. Mark Hamilton, PhD, executive director of the American Mental Health Counselors Association.
• To find a therapist in Chicago or elsewhere means being open about personal things going on in your life. Therapists can help a wide range of problems, including depression, addiction and substance abuse, suicidal impulses, stress management, self-esteem issues, issues of aging, emotional health, and family, parenting, and marital or other relationship problems. They often work closely with other mental health specialists. Once you have settled on a particular therapist, give yourself time to adjust to the counseling process and don't expect change to happen quickly. Working with a therapist may be the best thing you have ever done for yourself.

Resources

• My Chicago Therapist