If you’re feeling stuck in old patterns, overwhelmed by anxiety, or trying to heal from the emotional weight of divorce or past relationships, you’re not alone. Many adults—especially professional women—reach a point where they realize it’s time to get support. But finding a therapist who truly understands your experience can feel like an overwhelming process in itself.

Whether you’re Googling “best therapist near me” or asking friends for recommendations, the sheer number of options can be confusing. How do you know who’s the right fit? Let’s break it down so you can feel more confident and empowered in your search.

Key Factors to Consider When Finding a Therapist

When you're choosing a therapist, it's not just about credentials—though those matter. You're looking for someone who has the right training and someone who feels like a good fit emotionally. Here are a few key factors to consider:

1. Specialization

Make sure the therapist has experience working with your specific concerns. If you're healing from relational trauma, going through a divorce or break-up, or living with anxiety- look for someone who specializes in those areas. You can find this out by what they list and talk about on their website, blog posts, or Psychology Today when you’re starting to search. Some therapist are generalists (seeing multiple problem areas) and others choose to specialize in a handful of particular client needs. You can look for specific certifications- like being EMDR certified, Registered Play Therapists (for children), Certified Addiction Specialists, or Certified Eating Disorder Specialists- that help you know they therapist had additional education, consultation, and continuing education to work with specialized treatments or client needs.

Consultation calls with potential therapists give you time to ask more of therapists before investing your time, emotional energy, and money in an initial counseling session.

2. Experience

Years of experience can matter—especially when it comes to trauma-informed care. A therapist who understands how trauma shows up in relationships and how to regulate your emotions and body with triggers will be better equipped to guide you through the healing process with compassion and nuance. You can also briefly describe what you’re wanting support for and ask if they have experience working with this, or about how many clients they tend to see for this. Therapists understand you want to make sure you are in good hands, and are often open to answering questions or assessing if they are the right fit for your goals.

3. Availability and Format

Therapy should work with your life—not add more stress. Consider whether the therapist offers options that fit best for your life like:

In-person and/or online sessions
Flexible scheduling (especially if you’re balancing work, kids, or co-parenting)
Availability and expectation for weekly or biweekly sessions
Accepts insurance or out-of-network insurance (or do they partner with a service like Mentaya to check benefits or submit out-of-network billing for you)
Therapy intensives for people who want deeper work in a shorter time frame

I hear feedback that my clients appreciate the ability to meet more frequently, or for longer sessions as they move into EMDR work, or when something really big just happened in their life. They feel supported to work towards their goals with more momentum.

The Importance of Feeling Safe and Connected

All the training in the world won’t matter if you don’t feel safe, seen, and supported in your therapist’s presence.

The therapeutic relationship is the foundation of healing—especially when you’ve experienced relational trauma. You deserve to feel:

Comfortable sharing your story at your own pace
Respected and not rushed
Like your therapist truly gets you

That connection is something you can often sense early on—sometimes even in a brief therapy consultation. Pay attention to how you feel in your body when you speak with a potential therapist. Do you feel a little more grounded? Supported when sharing your experience and goals? A little more hopeful? Able to ask questions or give feedback? That’s a good sign!

Helpful Questions to Ask During a Therapy Consultation

Here are some questions to bring into your initial call or email exchange. These can help you get a sense of the therapist’s style and approach:

What is your experience working with people who’ve experienced relational trauma or divorce?
What therapy methods do you use, and how might they help with anxiety or past relationship patterns?
How do you support clients in building emotional safety and trust in the therapy process?
What does a typical session look like—and do you offer therapy intensives?
What is your availability like, and do you offer virtual sessions?
What can I expect in terms of pacing or readiness when doing trauma work?

Remember, a good therapist welcomes these kinds of questions—they want you to feel empowered and informed as you make your decision.

Let’s Explore If We’re a Good Fit

If you’ve been searching for the best therapist near me or wondering how to start finding a therapist who truly understands your story, I invite you to reach out.

I work with adult women and men navigating relational trauma, divorce recovery, and anxiety. My approach is warm, collaborative, and trauma-informed. Whether you're curious about weekly therapy or want to explore a therapy intensive for deeper healing, we’ll work together at a pace that feels right for you.

Ready to take the first step?
Click here to schedule a free therapy consultation or contact me to learn more about how I can support your emotional well-being.

How to find the right therapist for you