A step-by-step guide to finding a therapist

Sometimes when we need it the most, therapy can feel out of reach. Tracking down a provider with availability who you like and can also afford is no easy feat.

You could compare finding a therapist to apartment-hunting in a crowded housing market. Demand is high, availability is limited. It requires persistence, flexibility, and the knowledge that you may not be able to check every one of your boxes.

In a poll of mental health and substance abuse workers conducted earlier this year, 90% of workers surveyed expressed concern that new patients won't be able to access care. And more than half of providers who work directly with clients say their waitlist for new clients is longer now than it's ever been before.

And if your finances are tight – say if you're on Medicaid, or you selected an insurance plan with a narrower network of doctors to save on premiums – you may find it's harder to make an appointment with a new therapist compared to other health care providers.

With all that said, Theresa Nguyen, chief research officer at Mental Health America, says it's important to consider your personal fit with a therapist, as well as the cost. "It's such an intimate experience. It's unlike finding any other doctor," she says.

Here's a guide to finding a therapist who can help you – taking both