Finding the Right Fit: How to Select Your Next Provider

Finding the right referral is hard; there are so many options. How do you know which one is the right fit? Can more than one of them be the right fit? What if none of them are? All completely valid questions to think of when looking for a provider. Luckily, you have stumbled across the perfect article, as I am going to provide you with all the necessary information to find the professional best suited to you. 

Why are titles so confusing?

Mental health titles are confusing-- and what makes it even more confusing is that ‘therapist’ and ‘counselor’ are not protected titles in the majority of states, given that there are many types of therapists and counselors, and not all of them require licensure. This means anyone can call themselves a therapist, and they wouldn’t be breaking the law. Crazy, right? Still, when discussing the specifics of licensure for mental health professional, the type of license IS protected by law, meaning you cannot misrepresent your license. Here is a simplified version of what the job of each protected title is. 

Prescribers - Can evaluate for and prescribe medicine 

Psychiatrist: A medical doctor specializing in mental health, often best utilized for complex or severe presentations of symptoms, or when multiple medications are involved. They will be listed on websites as MD or DO. 

Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner: An advanced practice nurse who has the ability to diagnose and prescribe. However, their scope varies by state, so it is important to double-check what they have the ability to do in yours. They will be listed on websites as PMHNP. 

Primary care providers: The doctor or nurse that a patient will go to see for general health care. They usually manage common prescriptions such as antidepressants, and offer a faster entry point for patients. They will be usually listed on the websites under PCP or GP. 

Also, in a handful of states, specially trained psychologists can prescribe medication, so double-check the rules of your state in relation to this. 

Psychotherapists - Talk therapy 

Psychologist: They will provide therapy and are generally the providers for formal psychological and neuropsychological testing. They will be listed under PhD, PsyD, or occasionally EdD. 

Licensed Clinical Social Worker: This is a master's-level therapist who provides therapy and can help with case management and community resources. They will be listed under LCSW or LICSW. 

Licensed Professional Counselor: These are master level counselors. They will be listed under LPC, LMHC, LPCC, or LCPC, depending on the state. 

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist: These are therapists specifically trained in relational and systems work, and not solely for couples or families. This can expand into work settings, such as the relationship you have with your boss. They will be listed under LMFT. 

Other common specialty credentials:

Substance use counselors (LADC, CADC), certified peer specialists, and art or music therapists. 

IMPORTANT NOTE - As titles for the same credential can vary by state, I encourage you to look at the license type, which is what I have included as the last sentence under the variations. 

Evaluation vs Assessment 

These words are used very loosely by clients, and they do overlap at times. Think of an evaluation as something less structured, whereas an assessment is more formal, following a specific procedure.  

Key examples include: 

Medication evaluation - Carried out by a prescriber. 

Diagnostic evaluation - Can be carried out by a variety of licensed clinicians. 

Psychological testing - For example testing for neural divergence is typically done by a psychologist or neuropsychologist.  

Licensing and state lines 

This section is extremely important and tends to be overlooked by a lot of clients. Licensure is state-based, meaning that a clinician must be licensed in the state where you are located at the time of the session. This tends to be overlooked, when students or workers travel back home for holidays, if they leave the state and want to continue therapy they are unable to do so through zoom. 

There are some interstate compacts, such as PSYPACT for psychologists and the newer Counseling and Social Work compacts. However, they are very limited in participation and implementation. You should confirm directly with the provider rather than assume. 

If you want to verify a provider this is possible through the state licensing board's public lookup. It will have the records of licensing types, active status and any past troubles or disciplinary actions. This is a good habit to get into when looking for a provider, so you are able to have a form of "background check" on who you want taking care of you.  

Fully licensed, provisionally licensed, and interns 

Whilst searching for providers you might see the following labels on their profiles, this is what they mean. 

Fully licensed: Means they have completed education, supervised hours, and exams, and practice independently. 

Provisionally or associate licensed: Means they have finished a degree and are gaining supervised hours.  

Intern, trainee, or practicum student: Means they are still in a graduate program, working under supervision, often at a training clinic or agency. 

MYTH 

Just because a clinician is an intern or trainee doesn’t mean they are ‘worse’. Many are well supervised, up to date on the research, and often are a lot cheaper. However, important information to note is that a supervisor is involved, and your information may be shared in supervision. Furthermore, it is possible that a trainee’s availability may end with their placement, so if you are looking for something long term, you may need to look elsewhere. In reality, finding the right provider is about personal fit, not how many hours they have completed. 

Fees and payment 

It is no secret that providers can be expensive and cost is one of the biggest reasons people don't follow through on a referral. However, there are different ways to pay that might make you experience cheaper. Here are the options.

Private pay: You pay the clinician's full fee. The benefits of this are that it offers more privacy and flexibility but will often be the most expensive. 

In-network insurance: The provider contracts with the insurer, and you pay a copay or coinsurance which means you will only pay part of the full price.  

Out-of-network: You pay upfront and may get partial reimbursement with a superbill, depending on the plan you have. 

Sliding scale: Your fees will be adjusted by your income. Many private practitioners reserve a few of these slots, so when researching specific counselors see if these are an option. 

Lower-cost options: There are lower cost options available such as community mental health centers, university training clinics, nonprofit agencies, which will often cover a few free sessions. 

Medicaid and public benefits: Some providers and clinics accept them, look up your county or state health line and they will be able to point you to them. 

TOP TIP 

When contacting a provider, don’t be afraid to ask questions upfront: What is your fee? Do you take my insurance? Is a sliding scale available? These are questions that they would have heard hundreds of times and will likely be more than happy to answer. And if they aren’t, then you probably don’t want them as your clinician. 

Specialties 

A clinician's credential will tell you what they are allowed to do, whilst their specialty tells you what they are best at.  

Common specialties include: 

• Trauma and PTSD  

• OCD and anxiety disorders  

• Eating disorders, which often need a team  

• ADHD and autism assessment 

• Substance use and co-occurring disorders 

• Couples, family, and perinatal mental health 

• Identity-affirming care  

If this confuses you, reach out to the clinician. You can ask questions along the lines of ‘How much of your practice is devoted to this?’ and ‘What does treatment typically look like?’ Note that listing a specialty on a profile doesn’t always signal deep experience in that area. 

Where to search 

If you have made it this far then you are most likely ready to give this a go. Below are places where you can begin your search for a provider. I have provided a wide range of different types of providers. 

Psychology Today: One of the largest catalogs, with filters for specialty, insurance, and fees. 

Zencare, TherapyDen, Inclusive Therapists: These take curated or identity-focused directories. 

Open Path Collective: These have reduced-fee sessions. 

FindTreatment.gov (SAMHSA): This is a treatment locator for mental health and substance use. 

NAMI and local hotlines: These are good for community resources and peer support. 

Primary care or campus health centers: These are good starting points for medication evaluations. 

Remember, you can call or text 988 at any time.