How to Find a Good Psychologist in Los Angeles or Pasadena
Los Angeles or Pasadena and its surrounding cities can feel like a hidden paradise in the winter months where we host the Rose Parade or Rose tournament on New Year’s Eve, while the rest of the country is knee deep in snow. Or maybe visiting Hastings Ranch area to see all the festivities on Christmas Tree Lane is more up your alley during the holidays. We even have a sitcom dedicated to our city, The Big Band Theory, making Pasadena famous worldwide. Even though the cities have a combined population of 166,000, it can be like finding a needle in a haystack when trying to find therapist, psychologist or counselor. But thankfully you have landed here, and I am here to help you in your endeavor and pass along some expert tips.
I want to help you find a ‘good’ therapist
Finding a therapist in Los Angeles or San Gabriel Valley can be an arduous task. It’s not because there aren’t enough therapists to go around. This area is saturated with mental health professionals. But, finding one that is the right one for you, that has open availability, an appointment time that fits with your schedule etc. is a challenge. Add your own anxiety about opening up to a stranger about your deepest fears and desires, and it can feel near impossible. But, fear not. The following information should make the process of finding and starting therapy crystal clear and easy enough.
First, what do we mean by ‘Good’ therapist?
Most people would agree that a good therapist is ultimately someone who you feel comfortable talking to, can eventually trust and ultimately helps you achieve your goals or life desires. It's what we in the industry behavioral health call a ‘good fit.’ So this means there is no one right or wrong therapist for you but there will be a therapist that you will feel a connection with, perhaps instinctively. The closest comparison is this: have you ever met a stranger or acquaintance that you s3. uddenly just felt connected to? Like an intense pull because the two of you felt so alike in the way you see the world or in your experiences, values etc. Finding a right fit therapist is something like that. Someone you feel easy to talk to even though you don’t know anything about each other to begin with.
Identify a condition, problem, issue or goal
Once you have identified what you need help with, you can focus your efforts on finding therapists who specialize in that area. For example, Depression, Anxiety, Childhood or current trauma, terrible breakups, marital or couples’ therapy, racial/ cultural issues, POC struggles, LGBTQ are our areas of specialties at Mental Wealth.
What are my payment options?
Therapist all have different payment options. Some are in-network with insurance panels, whereby you are responsible for a copay (based on your plan) at time of your appointment, as you would with your primary doctor. Insurance the reimburses the therapist directly. Other therapist is private pay but provide Superbills for insurance reimbursement. With this you are responsible for the therapists’ full fee up front and you are provided with a special bill (‘Superbill’) that will enable your insurance company to reimburse you money directly. Lastly, some therapist offer ‘sliding scale’, where a lower fee is established based on your financial need. The particular form of payments (card, cash etc.) are established individually by each therapist.
So, how do I actually find a therapist?
Most therapists worth their money all have an online presence. You can start simply by googling for a therapist using your city (ex: Los Angeles) or even a specific suburb (ex: Pasadena). Adding keywords that include your problem areas or areas of specialty (ex: Anxiety) and other preferences such as gender, ethnicity or languages spoken will narrow the list to a select few therapists for you to contact. You can also procure such a list using the same filters as above, from online therapist directories (ex: Psychology Today, TherapyDen etc.), or your insurance company. Imp note: insurance directories are not updated regularly, nor do they usually lead to therapists that have openings. So, don’t get discouraged if that leads you nowhere. There are also community or college/ university run (PhD,PsyD programs etc.) counseling centers. These centers have multiple therapists on staff and although they offer affordable rates, you are usually not able to pick and choose a therapist of your choice. Lastly, you can always ask a friend/family member who is in therapy (or has been) for their therapists’ number. That therapist may end up being the one for you, or can provide you with referrals.
Therapist vs. life coach? How do I know which one I need?
This is an excellent question and one that people often get confused about. I’m going to use the above questions to compare and contrast services that therapists provide vs. what life coaches may offer. In general, therapists help you work on any goal you deem important, whether an internal one (ex: social anxiety) or an external one (ex: become more productive at work). They tend to dive deeper to get to the root of the problem to figure out the ‘why’ (whether due to childhood traumas, recent betrayal of trust by a friend etc.) , which informs the ‘how’ (methods that will specifically help) so that they can fix the ‘what’ (presenting issue, problem or condition). Coaches, on the other hand, are only working with the ‘how’ to by giving you literal things to work on. You have to be ready to do a lot more literal work with a coach as the focus is usually a business informed one. Having said that, if you think what you need is solely related to moving upwards in a professional setting and needing tools/guidance towards that, with no other health issues, it may be worth your while to consult with a coach. You can always compare and contrast your experience. You are allowed to shop around as well!
Therapist vs. Life Coach
Education: Therapists have a formal educational degree such as Masters, Doctorate or Post-doc degree where as Life Coaches have no such requirements
Expertise or License: Therapists are required to have a certain no. of hours (ex: for Psychologists 1500 hours pre-doctorate such as a hospital Internship and 1500 hours post-doctorate which is after graduating) PLUS pass an competitive state and national licensing exams in order to then practice independently. Life coaches again have no such requirements for actual hours spent with clients under supervision nor take any exams. A Life Coach can call themselves just that even without a H.S. diploma.
Techniques: Therapists learn and know many evidence-based techniques (backed by science) such as cognitive, behavioral,
psychodynamic, relational, cognitive-behavioral, hypnotherapy etc. vs. life coaches who seem to practice mainly behavioral methods.
Goals: WIth a therapist your goals are collaborative and can include a multitude of options-coping skills, strength building, healthy communication patterns, psych-education, increased objectivity, self- insight, understanding your underlying fears and blocks, looking at how your experiences in your past may be clouding your judgement today towards your relationships and other deeper, meaningful, existential types of changes. With a life coach, the goal is also collaborative. Usually, the focus is towards actions to achieve desired results and doesn’t include deeper meaningful changes.
Cost: Varies with therapists and coaches. Therapy though, can be reimbursed by your insurance companies.
Tools in their Arsenal: Therapist have many scientific-based methods and are governed by their state and national boards. Life coaches are not schooled in any scientific-methods etc.
Accountability: Therapists are bound by ethical standards and by the law. There is no such oversight for any wrong-doing, malpractice when it comes to a life coach. So, the risk vs. reward must really be evaluated closely in order to best protect yourself etc.
Overarching difference: Therapists focus on you, your pain points, interpersonal issues (relationships), your fears/desires/worry, working towards internal & external change, productivity with work/life balance etc. Life coaches usually focus on work and productivity only.
If you are feeling stuck or looking for therapeutic guidance, we offer FREE phone consults
Call us at (626) 594-5353 for a free 20 minute phone consultation or click on Book a Consult at the top of the page now, and see if Mental Health Therapy & Counseling is the ‘right fit’ for you. We’d be happy to hear about what is happening and help direct you to the right person in thecommunity, if we are unable to help you. If you are looking for help with Depression, Anxiety, Trauma, Couples’ Therapy or issues related to minority groups like Black, Indigenous or People of Color (BIPOC or POC), Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer etc. (LGBTQ+) ,you can read more about how I can help by clicking on the respective sections at the top of the page or just book your free consult today to see if me or someone else that I could connect you with, can best serve your needs.