How to Find the Best ADHD Therapist For You
Finding an ADHD Therapist can be difficult. Though the “easily distractable” stereotype does not permeate through to most clinically licensed therapists, they may still not fully understand what it’s like to be neurodivergent. They may not get the racing thoughts of planning out the imaginary situation, need for structure and routine, the random anxiety you get when shopping, and listening to the same song on repeat for a week straight.
There is hope, however, to find a therapist that can fit your needs. There are certain insights that as a therapist I’ve learned to help myself get found by the clients I know and can work best with. They don’t necessarily teach it in grad school but are rather specific business tricks for therapists. Lucky for you, I”m going to share some of the most helpful things I’ve determined to find the best potential fit for you.
Figure out What You Need.
“I need to find the best therapist for ADHD, duh” was the first thought I had when I wrote that line. This almost seems obvious, but let me explain a little bit. If you are currently dealing with depression or anxiety, searching for a therapist that specializes in depression and anxiety will result in an overwhelming list. This is often where mental heal treatment seekers either push through and look at hundreds of therapists, or give up due to the paralysis that such a list will give. Narrow it down by including other mental health issues, specific problems you need help with or characteristics about you. This might result in a search like “depression & ADHD therapist” or even further to “ADHD anxiety journaling therapist” will greatly increase your chances of finding a therapist that knows more specifically about your problems.
You Won’t Find the Best ADHD Therapist on Psychology Today
Maybe you will, but there’s something to be said about finding the best therapist on any one website. Everyone knows about Psychology Today’s website. It Is overwhelming to look at and underwhelming in its results. There are tons of other websites that are tailored to being inclusive. They highlight therapists that serve that many cross-sections of the US. Some Examples include Inclusive Therapists or Therapy Den. These websites intentionally try connecting clients to therapists that are more apt to handle specific populations. If you feel like you have difficulty finding a therapist that specializes in you then give these options a start.
Figure Out What You Can Afford
Finding an ADHD therapist and affording an ADHD therapist are two different issues. Some insurance companies are awesome and some are terrible, which isn’t something new to the industry. If your insurance company is going to cover your therapy and the costs are minimal, you’ll likely find a therapist using their network. However, the majority of other insurance companies will leave you considering paying out of pocket. Therapists are super understanding of this and usually offer a sliding scale. There’s even an online listing called Open Path Collective, where the therapists listed there agree to take underinsured and uninsured clients for a rate between $30-$60 a session. Regardless, how you’re paying will narrow or widen your search.
Figure out if you are their “Ideal Client”
I mentioned earlier that you want to find a therapist that will be able to get you. A therapist’s profile and website are their first impression on you as a client, and the first opportunity for a therapist to build a relationship with you. When you read their content, do they describe you or your circumstance? If you are reading a website and go “yes! This person gets me” then you have likely found a good candidate to start therapy with. As a therapist, it is best practice to write our website and online profiles to speak to clients that we are most equipped and able to serve. When you read their website, do they say they treat ADHD Adults with Depression and Anxiety specifically? If you don’t see yourself fitting into what they wrote, you may want to put them lower on the list.
Ask Them What Therapy is Like with Them
This is a very underrated suggestion, but one I feel is very important in finding the best ADHD therapist for you. Do they use an “eclectic” style of many different interventions? Do they specialize in one or two types of therapy? Does your therapist give you homework outside of sessions? If the therapist can describe to you their style of therapy rememberable and simple way, that is a good sign. Therapists can be excellent at their job and but not necessarily relatable. I myself will geek out about my particular style of therapy, but the key to this is solidifying the connection you felt when you were on their website. There is a therapist out there for everyone, it is just a matter of finding the one you need right now.