Finding a therapist can be a challenging process, one that can take up to several months. Unfortunately, in my experience, lists of therapists from insurance companies or psychology today aren’t kept up to date and are full of people no longer practicing, deceased, or not taking new clients. I am not saying this to deter you, as getting a therapist is an incredibly brave and wise decision. But it’s important to understand at the start of your search that our state’s mental health services are very overwhelmed right now, and you should not give up if you don’t find someone right away as it’s not personal, as everyone is going through a challenging time right now.

With that in mind, in addition to reaching out to your insurance provider and various websites, it would be helpful to also reach out to your primary care physician to ask for a referral. Also, contact your town’s social services office and make a appointment and ask them for referrals. I got a great therapist from a referral from my town’s social services department. You can call 211 and ask them for a referral. You can also just go to your community mental health provider and set up an intake appointment and let the intake person know that you are in need of a therapist. CMHC is the community mental health provider for the New Haven region. Finally, if you are ever in a crisis, you can dial 988 for immediate help.