6 Tips to Find the RIGHT Couples Therapist Near Me
View from Camelback Mountain (Phoenix, Arizona)
While Phoenix, AZ is a big growing city, with great food, sports, weather (most of the year), and great health professionals, many couples still find it difficult to find the “right fit” when searching for a couples therapist or a couples counselor.
If you're reading this, chances are you and your partner have hit a rough patch. You've tried talking about it but nothing seems to be getting better. Maybe you’ve even tried couples counseling before without much success. I'm here to tell you: don't give up hope yet! Finding the right therapist can make all the difference in how well your relationship recovers from this crisis (or if it even survives at all).
I want to help you find a therapist in Phoenix, Arizona.
If you are looking for a life coach, counselor, therapist, or psychologist, I’d like to help you find someone who can help.
Nearly every new client call I take, begins with some acknowledgment of how difficult it is to find the right therapist. I get it. Finding a good therapist, for you, is hard. And it is even more difficult when you have to take your partner’s and your relationship’s needs into account. My hope is that after reading my 6 Tips to Find the RIGHT Couples Therapist below, you will feel some hope that it is possible!
Tip #1: Don’t wait!
It's important not to wait until your relationship is in crisis, or you're about to break up, or your partner has left you before seeking the help your relationship needs. When couples wait too long, they can show up in despair, needing an appointment ASAP. Which often isn’t possible for couple’s therapists to offer. In addition, when we suffer repeated emotional pain and injury for too long without effective repair, we form resentment and it can be more difficult for the therapist and couple to address together.
According to relationship and marriage expert Dr. John Gottman, couples wait an average of six years of being unhappy before getting help. So rest assured, if you have been struggling in your relationship for a while now, you are not at all alone. Relationships are not easy but there’s great help out there!
If you are finding yourself wondering if you should get help for your relationship and wondering how to find the right couples therapist near me... it could be a sign that now is the time!
Tip #2: Get Clear on What You Need
It is helpful to identify your current struggle and therapy goals. In addition, there are many different approaches to couples therapy out there to choose from. The two most well-respected couples therapy models today are Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy and Gottman Couples Therapy (click the links to learn more).
You’ll also want to get clear with you partner on your mutual availability. Are you both only available in the evenings/weekend, or do you have availability to meet during the day?
Are you hoping to use your insurance? Check on your in-network and/or out-of-network mental health coverage. If you want to use your insurance, your insurance company can provide you with a list of covered providers near you.
Also, have you considered a couples workshop? Both Emotionally Focused Therapy and Gottman Couples Therapy offer in-person and virtual couple workshops. These can be helpful all on their own or get you started while you wait for an upcoming appointment for a new couples therapist using the same model/approach.
Taking these needs into consideration before you search for the right couples therapist will help you narrow down the list.
Tip #3: Ask Around
Sometimes, we keep our relationship struggles to ourselves, as a way to protect our relationships (of course we do!). However, you may be surprised by the number of people who have had experience(s) with this type of professional and can provide some helpful information about their experience in couples therapy. If you know someone who has been in therapy, ask them if they would recommend their therapist to others. If not, why not? Ask your friends, family members and co-workers if they know of a good couples therapist near you.
If asking around isn't working out for you or if there are no therapists in your social circle that come highly recommended by others (or even if there are), then it might be time for another approach: talking directly with doctors and other health care providers about what types of treatment options might suit your needs best.
Tip #4: Search for Reviews
If you're going to be spending a lot of time with the therapist and their staff, it's important to see if they have a good reputation in the community. Don’t be hesitant to google your potential therapists. Do some research on their website and social media accounts to get a sense of the therapist’s style, personality and approach to therapy. If there are any reviews available, read them carefully so that you can get an idea of what previous clients thought about the experience overall. And lastly, look for evidence of their experience in working with couples (e.g., training in couple’s therapy).
Tip #5: Does the therapist offer a free consultation? If so, take advantage of it!
If you find a therapist, who seems to be a good fit, ask if they offer a free consultation. If so, take advantage of it! Many therapists offer this service as a way of getting to know their referrals better and helping them determine if they are a good fit. I also highly recommend both partners taking advantage of this service, if possible, as it is essential that both partners feel comfortable and hopeful for the change they are seeking before scheduling.
Feel free to use this opportunity to share your relationship challenges, specific goals and ask any questions that would help you determine if the therapist is a good fit for you. Below are a few questions to consider …
Do they have experience working with your specific issue(s)? (ex: pre-marital, infidelity)
What approach do they take to couples counseling?
What will couples counseling be like with them?
Are your goals achievable/realistic in couples counseling?
How frequently would they recommend you meet?
Confirm the cost of therapy/if they bill to your insurance carrier
Tip #6: Don’t Settle
Don’t settle for the first therapist you schedule, if it doesn’t feel like the right fit for you and/or your partner. Finding the right couples therapist for you is imperative to your success in couples therapy. You need to feel comfortable with your therapist. And they need to understand your relationship, be knowledgeable about the issues affecting you and your partner(s), and have a good rapport with both of you. If things aren't working out with one therapist, I strongly encourage you to try another one!
A free therapy consultation in Tempe, Arizona.
I hope this article has helped you to understand how to find the right couples therapist in the Phoenix, Arizona area. Remember, it's not an easy process and there are no guarantees that any one person will be able to solve all of your problems--but if you take the time to research and ask the right questions, then at least you'll know what kind of experience you're getting into before committing yourself to it!
If you are still feeling stuck, feel free to call me at (623) 777-9696 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 I am not the right fit. If you are looking for help with couples, you can read more about how I can help here.
Christina Kennedy, MA, LAMFT
Founder + Psychotherapist
Wild Willow Counseling, PLLC
Christina Kennedy is a Marriage and Family Therapist in Tempe, Arizona and specializes in Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy and Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy. She has a Master’s Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy and has been helping her clients heal and restore safe and secure connection to themselves and others for nearly a decade. Click here to learn more about Christina.
