Finding a Therapist in DC
Major Take-Aways:
Finding an individual therapist in Washington, DC can be challenging, and navigating insurance, therapist availability, and provider fit can make for a complicated process
This article is intended to help you to better anticipate a few common obstacles to getting started, as well as to provide helpful information for addressing them
These challenges are by no means impossible to overcome, and persisting in your search despite them is well-worth the hassle!
So you’ve made the all-important decision to find a therapist in DC.
First and foremost, allow me to congratulate you— taking that plunge and the courage it entails is no small feat! Whether you’re entirely new to therapy or new to therapy in DC, you’ve decided to make a great investment in your well-being and emotional health, and that’s certainly worth celebrating.
However, it’s likely that when you made the choice to enter therapy, the logistics of getting started weren’t exactly at the front of your mind, and if you’re really struggling right now, those logistics may begin to feel like a bit of a nightmare. In this article, I’ll help you to surmount some of the common barriers associated with finding a therapist in DC, first by offering a little “lay of the land,” then by offering practical insights for getting started.
First, a bit of context…
Allow me to set the stage for you a bit.
First, you’re lucky to be living in a city where there is hardly a shortage of excellent and well-qualified therapists. DC boasts tons of mental health providers, and for those willing to commute, Maryland and Virginia do too. However, for as many therapists as there are, there are equally many people seeking therapy, and it can at times feel like “slim pickin’s” when it comes to finding a therapist with open availability. Don’t be discouraged if you contact a number of therapists in the coming days and either don’t hear back, are told they don’t have any availability, or are asked to join a waitlist before getting started.
Second, many (if not most) therapists in DC are private pay or “out-of-network” providers for insurance purposes. What this means is that they are not paneled with insurance companies and for that reason do not accept your in-network insurance benefits (the benefits you likely use when paying a co-pay to see a physician, for example). The unfortunate reality is that insurance companies are unwilling to pay therapists at a rate that is commensurate of our years of education and experience, and the government has failed to enforce existing laws that otherwise require them to. Those therapists in DC who do accept in-network insurance tend to stick with a select few insurers that pay them most fairly. They may also be disproportionately Masters-level clinicians and tend to be full or to have waitlists given the number of people motivated to find in-network providers.
For many, this landscape can create a challenging financial obstacle to beginning therapy— a reality I believe to be by design. After all, insurers aren’t exactly eager to cut into their profit margins by making this easy! While these challenges can be discouraging, especially at a time when you may be struggling with depression, anxiety, or other concerns that make it hard to find the energy to navigate them, it’s important to know ahead of time to expect and to brace for them. Fortunately, many people before you have faced similar obstacles, and with a bit of guidance and luck they have still been able to find a great therapist to get the help they need. You can too!
Not sure what your insurance covers? Here are a few questions to ask.
If you’re entirely new to therapy, it’s likely that you’ve never had to consider your mental health benefits before, and you may be wondering how to learn more. By law, most insurance providers are required to offer some kind of mental health benefits, though the quality of these benefits often pale in comparison to those for physical health coverage.
Generally, your benefits will fall into two broad categories: those for in-network providers and those for out-of-network providers. An in-network provider is one that your insurance has a contract with to provide services to its members at a negotiated price. For mental health providers, this price is often significantly less than they would charge otherwise and may come with specific guidelines for treatment that therapists may find to be counter-therapeutic. For that reason, many therapists forgo being “paneled” as in-network providers. Nonetheless, if you work with someone in-network you will likely pay a simple co-pay at each appointment, and your insurance company will pay the remainder of the cost.
More commonly in DC, mental health providers are considered “out-of-network” for insurance companies. While some plans simply don’t offer any out-of-network coverage (e.g., HMOs), many will still cover a portion of the cost for you to see someone outside of their network, usually an established percentage. More on that in a minute!
It’ll be important for you to determine what coverage you have before proceeding in your search for a therapist. In order to clarify your insurance benefits, I'd encourage you to call your insurance company (usually the number listed on the back of your insurance card) and ask the following with regards to “mental or behavioral health benefits”:
What are my mental health benefits? What would be the co-pay for seeing an in-network provider?
Is there a limit on how many sessions my plan covers per calendar year, and if so, how many?
Does my plan include coverage for individual outpatient psychotherapy sessions with an out-of-network provider? (It may help to mention the insurance code for individual psychotherapy if that’s what you’re looking for: #90834).
What is my out-of-network deductible (the out-of-pocket amount you have to cover before benefits kick-in), and has it been met?
How much does my insurance pay for an out-of-network provider? If my insurance reimburses me for out-of-pocket expenses, what percentage of the cost is reimbursed? And is there a limit on spending?
Do I need a pre-authorization to receive coverage for mental health treatment?
With this information in mind, you will hopefully be able to make a more reasoned decision about whether to seek therapy with a therapist in- or out-of-network, with the previously mentioned limitations to both in mind. Most therapists will advertise whether they are an in-network provider in their web materials and, if so, for which insurance companies, though you’ll still want to confirm this when reaching out to them if you’re set on finding a provider in-network.
So, what if I decide to find a therapist who is out-of-network?
If you have an insurance plan that requires you to see an in-network provider to receive coverage (e.g., if you have an HMO plan), you will likely need to seek treatment from an in-network provider or pay for therapy out-of-pocket. If your plan covers out-of-network mental health benefits (e.g., as it may with a PPO plan), you may be eligible to receive reimbursement for 50-80% of the cost of therapy. Some may cover as much as 100% of out-of-network treatment, though it’s reasonable to expect at least some cost-sharing on your part.
As you can imagine, seeking an out-of-network provider will allow you the most flexibility in choosing a therapist who is the right fit for you and will likely make for the quickest process when looking for a therapist in DC, as many if not most are “out-of-network” or “private pay” exclusively and in-network providers book-up quickly. If you decide to see an out-of-network provider and have insurance benefits to share the cost, you usually will need to pay their full fee at the end of each session (though some charge monthly) and subsequently seek reimbursement from your insurer.
The average cost for a 45- to 50-minute individual therapy session as of 2021 is $229 per session (I charge $190), so it’s worth being prepared for that upfront expense. Then and generally at the end of each month, your therapist will provide you with a receipt of the services you’ve received and how much you’ve paid them. You will likely be responsible for then taking this “superbill” to your insurer to seek reimbursement for the price you’ve paid for their services, though some therapists will file this directly to your insurer on your behalf. You may have to meet a certain deductible amount before any of those benefits kick-in.
Okay, I’ve figured out payment. Phew! But how do I even find a therapist?
There are a few common ways that people look for therapists in DC, most of which fall into three broad categories:
Via therapist directories like Psychology Today or Good Therapy. Psychology Today is the overwhelmingly most popular directory for therapists and functions similarly to a search engine, allowing you to filter results by your location, insurance, therapist characteristics (like gender or sexual identity), the type of therapy they provide, and so on. You can then browse the profiles of therapist-providers, each of whom has a short bio describing themselves, the services they provide, and their approach to therapy. For an example, you can see my profile here. Alternatives to these websites may include directories for specific treatment options that require specialized training, professional organizations, or registries for graduates of specific schools and programs.
Via your insurance provider. If you’re intent on working with an in-network therapist, you may have some luck simply calling your insurance provider and asking them for referrals for in-network providers. It’s important to bear in mind that insurance referral databases are often poorly managed, rarely up-to-date, and limited in scope. As an example, when a former client sought therapy in a new area, his insurance provider gave him three referrals: 1) to a child psychologist, 2) to someone who had retired, and 3) to someone who no longer accepted his insurance plan. It can be quite the headache, so be prepared to follow-up as needed.
Via word-of-mouth. It’s not uncommon for me to meet with people who found me through a friend or family member who previously worked with me. That sort of word-of-mouth may help you to more easily trust a new therapist, and may give you early insight into their policies and fees. Just remember that therapy is an individualized experience, and that it’s okay to not like or “click” with someone who was recommended to you.
How do I possibly sort through all of these options?
There are no shortage of therapists in DC, and it’s likely that you’ll end up trying to choose a therapist among a deluge of options. At a time when you might be feeling particularly vulnerable or overwhelmed, that can be difficult to do— and yet, finding a qualified, trustworthy therapist with whom you “click” is the secret sauce to good therapy.
While the above sources may vet or verify providers to varying degrees, it’s important to remain scrupulous when seeking a therapist to work with. You will likely want to consider a few things while reviewing a therapist’s web materials:
Their level of education (e.g., masters-level versus doctorate-level)
Their credentials (e.g., licensed clinical social worker, licensed psychological associate)
Their specialties or therapeutic concentrations
Whether you think they’ll be a good fit, both for your needs and your personality or relational style
And any identity characteristics that feel important to you (e.g., their gender, sexual identity)
While this can be a lot to decipher from what is usually a limited amount of information available online, I would encourage you to really see yourself as a consumer of therapy in this process— one who can be at least a bit choosey at this stage!
You might like to begin by finding three to five therapists to contact initially, and see whether you’re able to get in with any for an initial consultation. Most therapists will offer at least a free phone call to discuss your interest in working with them (I myself do), during which time you can ask any questions that you may have to learn a bit more about their particular practice or approach to therapy. I’d also encourage you to not be surprised if your initial outreach simply ends with no response and to feel free to follow-up with a therapist after a few days if you haven’t heard back from them. Don’t take any of this personally; therapists are humans too, and sometimes things just slip through the cracks!
What about online teletherapy— is it right for me?
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced many reluctant therapists in DC to move their practices almost entirely online, a move that the profession had been hesitant to make prior to the pandemic. Nonetheless and to our collective surprise, teletherapy has worked wonderfully well when compared to in-person therapy, and it’s come with the added benefits to our clients of convenience, privacy, and time saved commuting to an office. While many of us are eager to return to meeting with clients in-person (yes, we miss our clients!), I imagine the profession will continue operating using a hybrid model of in-person and virtual therapy for the foreseeable future.
That said, some people seeking therapy in DC may be skeptical of teletherapy and its benefits, and so I encourage you to do your research and consider what feels like the best fit for you at this time. While research on teletherapy is modestly limited, the evidence points to it being as effective as in-person treatment for most people, most of the time. A mental health professional can help you to determine whether virtual teletherapy will be appropriate to meet your particular needs, and a limited few may have the option of meeting in-person if necessary. I personally am meeting with all of my clients entirely online for the time being and have received no complaints!
Simply put, therapy is worth the upfront hassle and investment.
I hope this articles helps to clarify some of the unique challenges and opportunities for seeking a therapist in the DC-area. While getting started with a therapist (let alone a therapist you like!) can prove difficult initially, it’s well worth the hassle— in fact, according to the American Psychological Association, the average person who engages in psychotherapy is better off by the end of treatment than four out of five of those who don’t! Good therapy works really well, and it can help you to live a happier, more fulfilled, and values-driven life. While the effort to get started may be hard to muster up-front, I know you’ll find it worth it in the end.
Interested in working with me? Or notice something I missed?
I’m flattered! Check out the rest of my website to learn more about me and my approach to therapy, or simply send me a message at my Contact page to get started.
Have feedback on this page or ideas about how it could be improved to be more helpful to others? Send me an email!
