While Eureka, CA, has it’s share of issues, it is also known for beautiful beaches, the redwood forest, agates, clams, and fishing.  There is a lot of beauty that surrounds us here.  However, just because Eureka isn’t a terrible place to live doesn’t mean life doesn’t come up and you don’t sometimes need support.  If you are looking for an online or in person counselor, therapist, or psychologist- I’d like to help you find someone who can help as finding a therapist that is a good fit for you can be difficult.

Here are some tips.

1.      Ask Someone You Know And Trust.  It could be a friend or family member, someone you know from work, your doctor, lawyer, pastor, or any other professional you have a relationship with that honors your confidentiality (won’t tell others what you say) is a good option.  If it is a friend or family member, just be sure they will be helpful and supportive, not intrusive.  If it is a professional, these are people that run businesses as many counselors or therapists do.  They are well connected in the community and refer to each other all the time.

By the way, when asking for a referral to an online or in person counselor or therapist, you do not have to go into any of the details of why you are looking for counseling unless you want to.  It’s enough to just say “I’m having some issues and I’d like to consult a therapist about it.  Do you recommend anyone?

2. Don’t Use The Yellow pages.  The yellow pages are expensive and a lot of good online or in person therapists or counselors aren’t there.  I’m not.  Plus there is no rules on who can list there.

3.      Ask A Therapist You Know Who They Recommend.  If you have a friend, friend of a friend, or family member that is a therapist, or knows a therapist, ask them for a referral.  Therapists refer to one another all the time. 

4.      Work.  Many work places have what is called Employee Assistance Programs (EAP).  These services are to provide counseling for employees as part of the employee’s benefits.  You can ask if your company has an EAP program for a set number of sessions (at no charge to you) and if you want to continue they will refer you to an online or in person therapist that takes your insurance.

5.      Your Insurance Company.   Many insurance companies have a helpful customer service department.  They should be able to suggest online or in person counselors or therapists who participate on their panel (which means they have already been checked out by the insurance company for all the right professional licenses and credentials) and likely can tell you who specialize in what you need.

6.      Use The Internet.  The difference between the web and the yellow pages is that, for a therapist, listing on reliable websites is not nearly as expensive AND reliable sites require a minimum of professional qualifications to be listed. Psychology Today (PT),  probably has one of the most comprehensive listings in the US.  They contract with other trustworthy sites like WebMD and this website to provide their list to their readers.  A therapist cannot list with them unless they have an advanced degree in a counseling field and an up to date professional license or certification.

A good listing on PT provides you with information regarding the professional’s qualifications, what areas of expertise they have, and how long they have been a therapist or in private practice.  They should also have practical stuff like phone numbers, email address, where their office is located, office hours, and whether they accept insurance.  

7.      Do A Google Search.  Once you have a few names, go ahead and google them.  If they have a blog or a website, explore them!  Often you can get a sense of who they are or the type of online or in person therapist they are by what they write or what is written about them. 

Telehealth And Telephone.  If you live in an area where it is difficult to find a mental health professional locally, you can always turn to telehealth sessions using the telephone or HIPAA compliant video conferencing programs such as VSEE, Microsoft Teams, or doxy.me.  There are other video programs such as Skype, FaceTime, Zoom, and Google Hangouts that have been temporarily approved  during Covid-19 to improve accessibility as well.  While online counseling is a specialized service on the cutting edge, there are online therapists world wide providing online counseling. 

One Last Thought In Your Search For An Online Or In Person Therapist:  Try to gather at least two to three names.  That way you can have choices if one doesn’t work out or just doesn’t suit you.   

I hope this helps you find the right online or in person therapist in Eureka, CA.  If you are still feeling stuck, feel free to call me at (707) 954- 7060 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.  If you are looking for help with anxiety or trauma counseling, you can read more about how I can help Parents With PTSD and Trauma and Kids.