The 3 Counseling Websites You Need To Find a Therapist

You’ve been thinking about seeing a counselor for weeks, months, or sometimes even years. Now you’re finally ready…but, unfortunately that’s when things start to get really difficult for people. You may find yourself stuck and frustrated with questions like:

• How do I know where to go to find the right therapist for me?

• Where do I even get started?

• There are so many counseling websites…which of these are legit?

It can get tricky really fast. 

In this post I’m going to give you three counseling websites that I absolutely have used myself to search for counselors in my area, and that I place my trust and confidence in.

1. Psychology Today

psychologytoday.com is the heavy hitting counseling website in the world of counseling websites. Not every counselor in the country lists themselves of Psychology Today, but, if a counselor chooses to list themselves in a searchable directory online anywhere - they are probably going to do so on Psychology Today.

Psychology Today is like Facebook in the world of counseling websites.

Are there other social media sites other than Facebook that exist? Yes, totally. But everyone uses Facebook, and it’s so great, because everyone uses Facebook. Everyone uses Twitter (ahem, X), because everyone uses Twitter. What makes it popular, is that it’s popular. Psychology Today is the same way in that the strength of Psychology Today is the sheer volume and number of therapists that are in the directory that you can have access to. 

Psychology Today lets you quickly search by zip code or city, as well as giving you other options to help you narrow down your search for the right therapist for you. On Psychology Today you can find counselors who:

• Specialize in your particular issue

• Accept the health insurance you have

• Are of your preferred therapist gender

• Practice using a type of therapy you might know you prefer

• See clients of the particular age range you’re looking for

• Charge in a particular price range per session

• Specialize in particular ethnicities

• Is competent in working with a particular sexuality

• Speaks a particular language

• Is trained to work with a particular religion

After you’ve gone through and selected exactly what you’re looking for, Psychology Today will provide you with a robust list of therapist profiles to choose from that meet your specifications. Clicking on a therapist profile pulls up a wealth of valuable information about each therapist including:

• Name and photo

• Credentials and licenses (Psychology Today verifies therapists licenses)

• Education, training, and years of experience

• Areas of expertise

• Treatment approaches

• Philosophy and approach

• Populations served

• Insurance accepted

• Fees

• Contact Information

• Personal Statement

• Endorsements by other therapists

• Link to therapists website

In addition to providing information on licensed counselors in your area, Psychology Today is also able to provide information in the following areas as well:

• Online Therapists

• Psychiatrists

• Treatment Centers

• Support Groups
  

2. Therapy Den

therapyden.com differs from Psychology Today in several ways. It’s a newer directory that has not been around as long as Psychology Today. While it does not have as many therapists as Psychology Today, the platform offers some really great improvements on the therapist directory, in my opinion.

Therapy Den offers more detailed information about therapists than a lot of other therapist directories out there. For example, Therapy Den lists around 140 different specialties that users can search from, giving users the ability to find a niche therapist that specializes in their particular issue, population, or preferred treatment method that other therapist directories may not include.

Furthermore, therapist profiles have a much longer character count, allowing therapists to go into greater detail about who they are and what they do. Additionally, Therapy Den allows therapists to upload longer videos about themselves on their platform, which hopefully gives you a better sense of who the therapist is, and what they’re like.

Therapy Den also has a long history of creating a space of support specifically for marginalized clients. For example the screen shot above of Therapy Den’s home page makes an intentional effort to target and reach out to individuals in the Trans community looking for therapists. When therapists sign up for a profile on Therapy Den, they have to accept a pledge that they are LGBT+ affirming, and committed to working for justice for marginalized communities.

3. Open Path Collective

What sets openpathcollective.org apart from other therapist directories is its commitment to helping connect people in need of reduced fee services with therapists who are able to provide them. Open Path is a non-profit organization that has connected over 110,000 therapists with clients in need of reduced fee services ($40-$70 per session).

If you can not afford to pay full fee prices for therapy, Open Path Collective is a really amazing therapist directory to check out. I honestly can't think of another place online where you can find a list of therapists who all reserve spots for reduced fee services.

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Wishing you the best on your mental health journey.

Hi, I’m Travis.

My clients describe me as calm, compassionate, and curious…

You have these qualities inside you at your core too. You just need a little help uncovering them.

If you’re dominated by anger, anxiety, shame, or self-criticism, I can help you re-connect with who you really are: confident, calm, courageous, compassionate, and connected to yourself and others.

Travis Jeffords - LCMHCA | MDiv. | Male Counselor

In-person counselor: Greensboro & Winston-Salem

Virtual counselor: North Carolina

Licensed Counselor

Please note: The information provided in this blog is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional counseling or therapy. The content presented here is based on my professional knowledge, personal experiences and research, but it should not be considered as a replacement for individualized mental health advice.

Every individual is unique, and the content provided may not be applicable to everyone's specific circumstances. It is important to consult with a licensed mental health professional regarding your specific concerns and to receive personalized guidance tailored to your needs.