How to Find the Right Therapist—Even Without Insurance

In this episode of SSRI’M OK, hosts Dr. Bijan Zarrabi, a psychiatry resident, and Macey Isaacs, a stand-up comedian, talk about how to find a good therapist—even if you don't have insurance.

They break down the steps, starting with figuring out how you’re going to pay and whether you’re using insurance. If you're not, don’t panic—there are still affordable options like sliding scale therapists and training clinics.

Bijan shares insights from his recent trip to the APA (American Psychiatric Association) conference, including what he learned about mental health and social media. They also get real about how just starting the search is often the hardest part.

They discuss:

• Tools that can help you actually sit down and start the process (like body doubling and setting timers)
• How to choose a therapist based on your goals
• Why ACT or CBT might be helpful—but why you shouldn’t stress too much about the specific modality
• The importance of connection over credentials
• Red and green flags to look out for
• What to ask during a first call (which you should always do)
• What Macey personally looks for in a therapist
• Why it’s completely OK to prefer certain therapist traits—like gender, sexual orientation, or therapeutic approach
• And a reminder that you’re not stuck with the first therapist you meet—you’re allowed to shop around

Also, Bijan has a great furrowed brow. That’s not helpful for finding a therapist, but it is true.

Resources Mentioned: 

https://psychologytoday.com/

https://zencare.co

https://www.zocdoc.com/

https://www.therapyden.com/

https://therapymatcher.org/

https://openpathcollective.org/

https://www.focusmate.com/

 

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Art by Zoe Zakson

Music by Raul Garcia

Edited by Katie Hettenbach

 

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