Psychologists and Therapists

Finding a qualified psychologist or therapist who is right for you is an important part of your treatment.

Various Ways to Find a Psychologist or Therapist
If you have insurance, it is normally most helpful to search through the insurance channels. Often, you can call the number on the back of your insurance card or search your insurance company’s website using your zip code to locate a list of psychologists and therapists in your area.

There are websites that might be useful in your search as well, although they do not necessarily list all the possibilities in your area. Some links that may be helpful are:

http://therapists.psychologytoday.com/rms/prof_search.php

http://www.revolutionhealth.com/doctors (select "Psychologist" under the heading "Specialist")

http://maps.google.com/ (search for "Psychologist" in your area)

http://community.adaa.org/eweb/DynamicPage.aspx?Site=adaa&WebKey=ce66a0ec-3e19-437d-836b-f180fcdf6814

Try searching several different avenues to come up with a group of psychologists that you think might suit your needs in terms of location and insurance considerations. From the group of therapists in your area, it is helpful to narrow the list down to only those who specialize in or are experienced in treating Social Anxiety Disorder or similar problems.

Points To Remember When Choosing A Psychologist or Therapist
Once you have narrowed the possibilities on the list, it is a good idea to compile a few questions for the potential therapists in order to determine which one might be the best choice for you. Many people find that it is useful to ask a potential therapist about his or her philosophy on, level of experience with, and preferred types of treatments for Social Anxiety Disorder.

Remember that you should feel comfortable speaking to him or her, if the therapy is to have a better chance of a positive outcome. Sometimes, a short phone conversation is enough to tell you if you would like to move forward with the relationship and have a face-to-face meeting with a potential therapist.