Finding a psychotherapist in New York

While sometimes it can seem like all of the psychotherapists in New York are located in New York City, I can tell you firsthand that there are excellent therapists all over New York State. If you are looking for a psychotherapist, counselor, coach, or psychologist — I’d like to help you find someone who can support you.

I want to help you find a psychotherapist in New York.

Even though I’m a therapist, I’ve had the experience of looking for a therapist for myself, so I understand exactly how frustrating it can be to find one! It can be confusing trying to determine who takes insurance and understand the differences between a psychotherapist, a coach, a psychologist, a psychiatrist, or a counselor. So let me help walk you through some of the common things I tell friends and family when they ask for help finding the right person for psychotherapy in New York.

Tip #1: Ask yourself why you’re going to therapy.

It may seem obvious, but getting a feel for the reason(s) you’re going to therapy can be one of the most helpful parts of figuring out who can support you. For example, if you’re struggling with the amount of stress in your life and your thoughts just keep racing, it sounds like you may struggle with anxiety. Most therapists are trained to work with various people, but it will make more sense for you to find someone who specializes in anxiety than someone who specializes in eating disorders.

Tip #2: If you’re unsure what specialty you’re looking for, just start calling therapists whose words speak to you.

Even if you don’t know what is going on for you, you can still find a psychotherapist, counselor, or psychologist who can help. Read their websites. Read their Psychology Today pages. Do you feel seen, heard, or called to reach out to them? That’s a good sign that they could support what you’re going through.

Tip #3: Determine what type of therapist is the right fit for you.

There are so many different types of therapists and licenses — it can be confusing to know where to start. Here’s a very brief overview of the differences to get you started. A psychotherapist is someone who will work with you around mental health and is trained in mental health diagnoses. A psychotherapist will also most often address issues throughout your life stages, including childhood. This encompasses many different licenses (social workers, DBT therapists, psychoanalysts, licensed mental health counselors, etc.). Psychotherapists will often have special training or focus areas such as marriage and family therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, trauma, or anxiety. A psychologist is similar to a psychotherapist, but it is a specific type of license and education. A psychiatrist is someone who prescribes medication but does not frequently offer weekly/intensive sessions to address your ongoing issues. A counselor often has a specific type of license to practice counseling (Certified Substance Abuse Counselor, marriage and family therapist, etc.). It is often solution-focused or short-term and does not necessarily address the underlying causes or issues behind your distress. It can help address specific problems or goals and focus on the present.

A free psychotherapy consultation in New York 

I hope this helps you find the right therapist in New York. If you are still stuck, please call me at (347) 699-2694 for a free 15-minute phone consultation. I’d be happy to hear about what is happening and help direct you to the right person. If you are looking for help with trauma, shame, or body-based work, you can read more about how I can help here.