Take a look at ouronline therapy methodology.
Its not easy to find the right therapist.
And all of this has to happen before the first session.
VeryWell Mind / Jaclyn Mastropasqua
I hoped to find a married Black female who has children, is aChristian, and assists her parents.
I then had to select whether I was looking for a therapist who could meet me in-office or virtually.
There were a lot of filter options, including whether I wanted someone who accepted insurance.
We’ve tried, tested and written unbiased reviews of the best online therapy programs including Talkspace, Betterhelp, and Regain.
I could also narrow it down by:
There was no shortage of specialty filters.
I decided stress was a good choice for me.
I was disappointed to find that there was no filter forspiritualityor for therapists who offered a free consultation.
Both would have been helpful for me.
I didn’t need a provider near me since I was using virtual therapy and didn’t need medication.
You had to visit the therapists page in the directory to find that information.
I saw there werepsychologists,psychiatrists, andsocial workersto choose from.
In total, I had a list of 60 providers to choose from who met my filter parameters.
However, I disliked that there was no way to sort the results alphabetically.
Spirituality was more important to me.
The next step was to move forward with contacting a therapist.
I decided to contact two therapists options via email after reviewing my filtered list.
I sent an email because I liked the idea of being able to correspond directly with her.
One therapist took over a week to respond to my email.
The other, however, was fantasticshe responded within a couple of hoursand she also accepted my insurance.
We were able to schedule the initial consultation via email pretty quickly.
I also liked the fact that I would leave therapy sessions with steps I could take to helpmanage stress.
Based on that phone consultation, I decided I liked her and wanted to proceed with therapy sessions.
We talked about the time slots she had available in her schedule for upcoming sessions.
Though the options were a little limited, we found a time that worked for both of us.
I liked the fact that she slotted me for that same time every week.
It ensured that Id be able to get in and see her, plus have continuity of treatment.
What My First Session Was Like
I approached my first session with excitement.
I soon learned that I was right.
Again, I liked that direct contact.
The session lasted for 45 minutes and went smoothly, with no technical difficulties.
Session Experience
Overall, I had an excellent experience with my provider.
She was caring, compassionate, knowledgeable, and thorough.
Our conversation had a certain fluidity because she understood some references I made as a woman of color.
This is where this directory stands out.
I think that is a benefit of having a directory where I could find women who look like me.
At the end of our session, she gave me actionable steps.
Though we’ve only had two sessions, they’ve been incredibly beneficial.
This therapy experience was similar to other good experiences that I have had, both in person and online.
We got 122 matches for in-person services and a whopping 358 options for virtual therapy.
The pricing for each provider was also a little unclear.
Pros and Cons
I’m glad I decided to use the Therapy for Black Girls directory.
It was not perfect, but it helped me find the therapy experience I was looking for.
It provides a pool of therapists who destigmatize therapy for women of color.
It has helpful filters, including insurance and specialty, and a variety of professionals available.
However, an important filter for therapists taking new patients wasn’t always accurate.
I also expected all the therapists bios to be similar.
It absolutely delivers on that promise.
While not perfect, there is a great way to filter results.
I got exactly what I needed and love my new therapist!
Access to care data 2022. https://mhanational.org/issues/2022/mental-health-america-access-care-data
American Psychological Association.
(n.d.).How diverse is the psychology workforce?.
