Another day, another therapist

I'm realizing that searching for a therapist could be fun. Fun, that is, if I were a masochist...

 

Right now, it looks like I'm going to have to tolerate a change of approach. My last two therapists were in fairly small practices, and I first learned about the therapists, themselves, on profiles they had on-line. In both cases, I had significant contact before the first appointment, which I thought helped. (It certainly helped me decide not to bother with one possible therapist 2 years ago!)

But...it doesn't look like that will work. No one in my general area is interested in my insurance. I talked with one therapist who is listed as a provider by my insurance plan, but he, too, is planning on phasing them out.

The only luck I've had finding a "maybe" is a larger practice that specializes in low income people. So there is a chance they might take my insurance for longer than a month... I talked with someone there, and it was a good conversation. I was impressed by her. But...I have concerns, based on some commentary I heard in the past, although the big issues weren't anything that would direct impact me. (But I was left wondering what problems exist that would be a problem for me.) Past that, I honestly wonder how good the therapists would be. I can't imagine the pay is good, and so one presumes most good therapists would only stay as long as it takes to get something else. But, perhaps, I'll be pleasantly surprised if I end up going there.

I've identified a couple of other large practices (one part of a regional healthcare system, and one another low income specialist), but haven't had any luck getting in contact. One selling point of that other practice: when I called, I was able to talk to a person on the first call, and with zero wait. (Interestingly, one was probably a former employer of the therapist I had earlier this year. I think, in fact, he left that place to go to the practice where I saw him.)

We'll see what happens...but right now, I guess it will end up being one of these three large practices.

I might, I suppose, look at people in private practice nearby city... But one wonders how long they might continue accepting the insurance no therapist wants to accept. Also it's just be a bigger hassle getting there. All three large practices have a location convenient for me and my routine day-to-day life, which is a selling point.

 

I've tried it. In fact, that was how I found my last two therapists. Unfortunately, this time, the nearest therapist who takes my insurance is in a nearby city. It's not impossible...but it would be at least an hour extra travel time, plus hassle, plus (potentially) an increase in bus fares (depending on when the appointments are). My therapist earlier this year was in that city, so it's not impossible. But his location was pretty convenient, and the schedule worked out nicely. I could pay fare once for each direction.

But I'm thinking it won't hurt to consider at least one therapist in that city, who used to work for the group practice where I saw the therapist I had early this year. (I'm impressed by that group practice, and so I view any therapist who worked there as being worth considering.)

I've also thought I'd like to be able to get a therapist at that one practice...but (the last I heard, as of July), they were booked solid.

 

Well, it looks like the three large group practices have been reduced to one... One place is booked solid. Another place told me that you need special referral for the nearest location.

Still pondering the viability of going to the nearby city...

 

Update...in the unlikely event anyone is interested...

I ended up trying a large practice that specializes in low income people. I'd mentioned this possibility before. I had mixed feelings--as I probably said before, I have a bias towards small practices. But my choices are limited, and I decided it wouldn't hurt to try this place. If it doesn't work, I can always go therapist shopping, and--who knows?--maybe the options would be better at that time.

Although, I've been pretty impressed by this place. It was really easy getting in, and the people I talked to were patient and willing to answer all my questions. A therapist in 2016, in private practice, wasn't so patient, so I know how bad it can be at some places.

But the experience different than usual. A lot of the intake process felt like an unwelcome, tiresome repeat of what happened two months ago. But it was a bit different, and (at times) unsettlingly different. The big unsettling part were demographic questions relating to problems of serious poverty. As I've said before, my position is pretty bad...but it's clear from the questions they must get people in even worse financial situations. Although the worst part was just how long it took--there was a lot more paperwork. I assume it may just be because of the size of the operation--they probably have had situations to inspire them to do certain things that may never happen in a small practice.

It seems like they work on a system of assigning therapists. Historically, I've known (and chosen) a therapist before the first appointment. Supposedly, there is a mechanism for change if a therapist doesn't work out, although apparently (in my case) there ware only a couple of therapists available. (Guess what? This is, once again, connected to my insurance.) All this said, however, I was impressed by the therapist they gave me. I actually think I like her better now (after one appointment) than I liked the last one after the first appointment. I'm also aware that my options are limited. It's easy to talk about an ideal therapist/client match...but "ideal" is easier to talk about with someone who has better resources to work with than I do.

In my first post on this thread, I discussed the issue of whether to come out. That decision may have been made during the intake process. I'm not sure. On one form, they asked sexual orientation. (I think there was also one relating to gender identity.) So I answered ticked "gay" (as the closest match), although I suppose I could have gone with an option that I prefer not to say. Although, I cynically figure...you check that "prefer not to say", and it's a dead giveaway that you aren't straight. So I may have come out to the therapist...assuming she reads this form. (I'm not sure if she will--that part of the paperwork was demographic oriented, and so it may well be sent elsewhere.)

 

I can't remember what I learned about my new therapist. One form addressed this, although I can't remember much. There so many forms--a whole forest of trees might have been chopped down to provide all the paper for all these forms. I'm not sure I recall anything about modalities. But she is a legitimate therapist.

As for confidence and comfort, it's possibly too early to tell, given that there has been only one appointment. That said...I feel at least as good about her as I did the last therapists. We'll see what happens over the next month or so.