How to Find A Therapist in Santa Rosa
While Santa Rosa and Sonoma County has a robust mental health care system compared to many more rural communities, unfortunately that has not translated into an easy process for our community members to find the right therapist.
There are so many things to consider: insurance coverage, reimbursement of fees, location, online or in-person, timing of available appointments, licensed versus unlicensed therapist, and most importantly- how to find someone whom you can truly understand the issues you are facing?
How do I start my search for therapy in Santa Rosa?
I have worked in mental health in Sonoma County for around 10 years and I can honestly say, I have never seen the demand for mental health care at this level.
The need for mental health services is at record levels and this has led to many therapists in our community with full caseloads, long waitlists and extended wait times to even get in for a first appointment.
What does this mean for you? And how do you navigate this complicated system? How can you find the right Santa Rosa therapist for you?
Santa Rosa Therapist Tip # 1: Find a Good Fit
There is a reason this is #1 on the list: research shows that the therapeutic relationship is the most important factor in the outcomes of therapy for clients. What does this mean? In order to have the best chance to benefit from therapy, you should feel a good vibe with your therapist, feel understood, trust your therapist, and you have confidence that your therapist has the knowledge and skill to help you in your particular area of struggle.
Even if you find a therapist that meets all the other factors you might be looking for: fee, location, time of appointment availability, etc. if the therapist is not someone you feel comfortable opening up to, you might want to reconsider your search criteria.
That said, sometimes it does take a few sessions to feel comfortable in therapy, especially if it is new to you, however you can usually get a good sense of a therapists’ vibe from a phone call and looking at their website.
Take advantage of the free phone consultations that many therapists offer prior to setting up an appointment with them. Ask friends and family for recommendations. It’s always ok to change your mind, even after you have met with a therapist a few times. Trust your gut, if you don’t feel like a therapist is understanding the root of your pain and problems, try out someone new.
Santa Rosa Therapist Tip #2: Consider the Location of Your Therapist
One of the biggest changes in mental health care that occurred due to the pandemic, was the shift from mostly in-person therapy to online “teletherapy.” Teletherapy refers to any type of therapy that is performed either over video or over the phone.
Some therapists in Santa Rosa have completely shifted their practices to be virtual only, some are completely in-office, and some do a combo. Think about what is going to work best for you. Some considerations to make:
Do you have a private space to meet with a therapist virtually that you won’t be distracted or have concerns about other people overhearing you?
Do you have “zoom fatigue” or just tired of meeting with people online?
Do you live in an area that is close to many therapist offices or in a more rural area?
Do you have a schedule that allows time to transport to and from a therapist’s office for appointments? Do you have a mode of reliable transportation to get you there?
Do you have a reliable and strong internet connection to be able to engage in teletherapy from your home?
There are many pros and cons of teletherapy versus in-person therapy. One of the biggest benefits to virtual therapy is the number of options of therapists available to you- you will likely be able to pick any therapist that is licensed in California, as long as you are also located within California. Of course, if you think you might at some point need in-person visits, or need a therapist who can provide you with local referrals (such as a psychiatrist, medical professionals, local community resources, etc.) picking a local therapist will be important.
Santa Rosa Therapist Tip #3: Understand Your Insurance Benefits (And if you want to use it)
Many people choose a therapist based on what their health insurance company will cover. If this is the case for you, learn as much as you can about your health plan benefits. Health insurance coverage typically is offered through several different plans, most commonly: HMO (Health Management Organization) or PPO (Preferred Provider Organization).
In Sonoma County and Santa Rosa, the most popular HMO plans are usually through Kaiser Permanente. This website explains the differences, pros/cons, and nuances of HMO versus PPO plans in California for more in-depth information.
While each plan is unique, in general with an HMO insurance you will need to find an “in-network” provider to receive coverage for therapy services. This is a limited list of therapists whom have contracted with the specific insurance company to provide services for their members. In general, a PPO insurance will allows you to see any licensed therapist of YOUR choosing (called “out-of-network providers”) and they will pay for an agreed upon percentage of the fee (this is often referred to as coinsurance) in addition to their contracted in-network providers. I know, it is confusing and complicated.
Some individuals in Sonoma County have insurance provided through MediCal, without an assigned insurance provider. If this is the case for you, try calling the Sonoma County Access Team: (800) 870-8786, to learn more about your options for therapy.
Some people prefer to forgo the insurance completely and pay out of pocket for their therapy. There are many personal reasons to forgo insurance completely including: not wanting an official diagnosis to be made and placed in their medical record (such as for certain professions), or just for increased confidentiality and privacy.
Santa Rosa Therapist Tip #4: Clarify what type of professional you are looking for:
Here is a summary of the most common types of professionals in the mental health field you might encounter in Sonoma County:
Licensed mental health therapist in the state of California are typically: Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (also known as: LMFT or MFT), Licensed Clinical Social Worker (also known as: LCSW), or Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (also known as LPCC). These professionals are trained to diagnose and treat mental health disorders. These therapists have been trained in clinical counseling, typically with a minimum education of a Masters Degree, 3,000 hours of supervised clinical internship hours and having passed multiple licensure exams. These types of licensed therapists also are required to take continuing education courses to keep up with the newest research and standards of the profession. They are regulated in California by the Board of Behavioral Sciences. You can search the California Department of Consumer affairs website here to see if the therapist you are considering is actually licensed and the status of their license.
Psychologist: These are therapists and/or clinical researchers who have a doctorate level degree in Psychology, 3,000 supervised clinical hours, and pass their licensing exams. Similar to the types of therapists listed above (LMFT, LCSW and LPCC) they are trained to diagnose and treat mental health disorders, but additionally, they have specialized training in psychological testing (both the administering of testing and interpretation of testing) as well as knowledge about clinical research (such as preparing a thesis and performing psychological research). In addition to clinical therapy, if you are looking for a battery of psychological testing, these might be the types of professionals you seek. In California, they are regulated by the Board of Psychology, and you can search the California Department of Consumer affairs website here to see the status of a psychologist's licensure.
Life Coach: There are many different descriptions of what a life coach does, but basically, this is an individual whom helps others create and achieve goals in their lives for personal fulfillment. There is no one standard for training of life coaches however some do obtain a certification, but this is not regulated with any governing board nor state agency. They are not trained to diagnose nor treat mental health disorders.
Psychiatrist: These professionals are medical doctors who are trained to diagnose and treat mental health disorders, often with the use of psychotropic medications. Just like any medical doctors, these professionals have gone to medical school and completed all residency/clinical training requirements to become a doctor. If you are looking for a medication to help treat a mental health issue, this is the type of professional you can search for. Often times, a therapist or psychologist can assist in referring you to a psychiatrist if they think medication might be a beneficial part of your treatment plan. You can search the status of a psychiatrists’ licensure here.
Associates, Interns, Post-Doctoral Residents: These are often terms used in addition to the types of professionals listed above, whom are not yet fully licensed in their field yet. Such as: Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (AMFT) or Psychological Associate. These professionals are often in process of collecting their clinical hours for full licensure, under the close supervision of a licensed therapist. These types of professionals are often able to offer lower fees for their services due to their status of being unlicensed, and can often be found working at non-profit organizations/clinics in the Sonoma County area. Keep in mind that in working with an unlicensed therapist, it’s possible that the therapy will not be reimbursed by your health insurance company, so it is wise to look into your health insurance benefits to confirm the specifics of your mental health benefit coverage.
Santa Rosa Therapist Tip #5: Be Persistent!
It will likely take a lot of phone calls, follow-up phone calls, researching and asking around (friends and family) to find a therapist whom meets your criteria. Advocating for yourself is key. It can be discouraging to make a few calls and not have an immediate response, but trust that there are therapists out there ready and willing to work with you.
The good news is, if you are searching in Sonoma County and Santa Rosa, there are plenty of therapists out there who would love to help you.
Most importantly, don’t give up! If it feels too exhausting to do this work on your own, ask if a friend or family member can help make calls for you or help with the research. This is the time to rely on our support systems when we are struggling and need to find a way to get connected to mental health care.
Angela Sitka, LMFT is a Santa Rosa therapist in private practice specializing in relationship anxiety, men’s issues, breakup, divorce recovery, and young adult issues.
Free therapy consultation in Santa Rosa
I hope this helps you find the right therapist in Santa Rosa, CA.
If you’d like more information about my practice and how I help, check out my about me page.
If you’re ready for a free 15 minute phone consultation, I’d be happy to hear about what is happening and help direct you to the right person. You can directly book a time for a phone consultation with me using this link.