How to Find an Online Eating Disorder Therapist
Whether you live in the ever-diverse metropolitan expanse of Los Angeles, California or one of the quieter suburbs nestled next door like Simi Valley, California, it can be difficult if not downright frustrating to find a therapist, let alone an online eating disorder therapist. By the end of this blog, you should be able to feel a little less daunted with your search for a healing space.
Helping you find a therapist in Los Angeles, CA
So you’ve been seeing so many people in your life or online talking about the benefits of therapy, but you’ve tried looking and it’s been an annoying experience to say the least. Let me say that I understand, and it can feel like the wild west out there. In an effort to help cut down on the urge to chuck your phone in anger, I’ve compiled a list of tips to help you with this process.
Five tips to finding a therapist in California
Ask yourself: “What is it I think I would like to focus on?” You have the best judgment of knowing what you need, and finding a therapist in that speciality will help streamline your healing process. You wouldn’t want to see a cardiologist if you broke your foot right? So knowing if you’re looking for an eating disorder therapist, someone who works with substance, or grief processing, will be a great place to start!
Find therapy directories! Seriously, these places are like watering holes for therapists. And the best part is, you can get super specific about what you’re looking for. Maybe a female therapist who meets online, specializes in OCD and takes your insurance? Yeah, you’ll find her. Or maybe you want a non-binary folk, who gives Superbills, to help you work through your transition into college? They exist and are on those directories! Some directories I find to be helpful are: Therapy Den, Psychology Today, Open Path Collective (great low fee!), Inclusive Therapists, and Latinx Therapy.
Make a list! So now that you have a place to find these seemingly elusive therapists, make a list of at least 5 that you think you might like to work with. You might be wondering, “why pick so many?” Well great question! Answer is: you gotta treat this process like applying to jobs or school. You want to pick a few in case some don’t have openings or when you meet for a consultation, you decide whether they are a good fit for you or not.
Write out a message. Once you have your list, write out a general message with just enough detail for your prospective therapist to understand your needs. This doesn’t need to be long at all! An example could be: “Hi, my name is _____ and I’m looking for a therapist to help with my (anxiety, eating disorder, codependency, etc). Here is my number and you can call or text me.” Super simple and direct. Now send this exact same message to every therapist on your list, no need to get creative with unique messages!
Make a solid attempt to relax. Sounds kind of silly to say, but I mean it. While having a therapist to help support you through your struggles is the ideal goal, the process can be stress inducing and make some of your issues worse if you are not taking some time to care for yourself. Allow yourself to take care by asking a friend or family member to help with any of the above steps, watching a favorite movie/show, or going on a walk.
Free therapy consultation in Los Angeles, CA
I hope this helps you find a therapist in Los Angeles, Ca or smaller towns like Thousand Oaks, Ca. If you still feel stuck or unsure, feel free to call or text me at (805) 292-0836 for a free 15 min consultation and I’d be happy to see if can help you find the right provider for you. If you think you’d like to work with me, feel free to click here to read more about myself, my areas of specialty, or here to book a first session.
