Good Depression Therapist: Traits, Cost, How to Find One

Finding a depression therapist is something that takes careful consideration and research. Not everybody is a good therapist for depression. Therefore, it is important to take the time needed to ensure that the therapist you choose has the experience and education necessary to properly treat you. It’s also important that the depression therapist be a good fit for you. This is critical for your depression treatment and recovery.

Seeing a therapist for depression is a powerful first step toward feeling better and recovering from the condition. Let’s take a look at the qualifications to consider when selecting a good depression therapist; one that best fits your mental health and financial needs.

Qualifications of a Good Depression Therapist

Make sure you do your homework when searching for a therapist to help with your depression. Knowing the professional characteristics of a good depression therapist is vital in choosing the right therapist for you. You want to make sure that you choose a therapist that has a strong professional background in treating depression. There are several things to consider, like level of education, type of licensure, and years of experience.

Professional Background of a Depression Therapist

A therapist who is able to treat depression will have achieved a Master’s level degree or higher in counseling psychology, social work, mental health counseling, psychiatry or clinical psychology. He or she will also hold an active professional license (not a supervised license or a limited permit) to practice counseling.

Professional licenses that permit a therapist to treat depression include:

• Licensed mental health counselor
• Licensed professional counselor
• Licensed professional clinical counselor
• Licensed clinical social worker
• Licensed psychologist
• Licensed psychiatrist

Along with holding the degree and license to practice, you must also consider the professional experience of the depression therapist. Keep in mind that a license and degree proves that the therapist has completed the requirements to obtain the credentials. It does not account for the quality of the therapist.

When considering the quality of the depression therapist, think about how long it takes to be good at something. For a therapist, that means years of seeing patients. A good depression therapist will have at least 5 years of clinical experience with either a group practice or in private practice.

How to Find an Affordable Depression Therapist Near Me

There are plenty of resources to help you find a depression therapist near you. Some people choose to discuss a referral with their primary doctor, while others search for a depression therapist online. You can also call your local psychological and counseling associations for a referral. Each of these options is safe to use so long as you do the follow up research. This may include verifying their credentials and years of experience, along with an interview to determine if the therapist may be a good fit for you. Many therapists do not charge for the interview.

The cost of a chosen depression therapist is a consideration to take into account. To get the quality of counseling you expect and deserve is not something that is cheap or free, and it is critical to be aware of and avoid scams that promise things like free depression counseling. Good quality counseling for depression can run in the range of $75-250/hour depending on the depression therapist’s credentials and years of experience, but it is worth spending the extra money when working toward ensuring a healthy mind.

When considering prices for a therapist, compare the prices of therapists in your area. Be careful of therapists who set their prices too low because there is a reason why they are low. If you see a therapist is offering a rate that is considerably lower than others in their area, there may be an issue with the quality of care this person is able or willing to provide. Such situations can become unsafe, as you may be given poor therapeutic services.

If you are concerned with the expense that comes with seeing a therapist for depression, consider contacting your insurance company. As mental health awareness grows, so does coverage for mental health conditions like depression. Currently, most insurance companies are required to provide mental health coverage, so connect with your insurance company to find out what kind of financial coverage is available to you for getting the help you need to feel better.

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