Find a Therapist in Colorado Springs
Finding a therapist in Colorado Springs is not as simple as finding a dentist or physician. It’s way more personal and overwhelming - if you’ve ever Googled therapists or counselors nearby, you know what I mean.
It feels really vulnerable to reach out to someone for help - especially when you’re already dealing with something hard. I think this is why a lot of people put off finding someone. We’re going to talk about how to sort through the overwhelming number of options and find someone you can trust.
How to Find a Good Fit
Fit Matters Most
Psychotherapy research has shown that the relational connection between you and your counselor leads to positive outcomes from treatment at least as much (if not more) than their chosen modality, theory, or training. You’re going to need to trust your gut here. But if the person isn’t someone you feel comfortable with from the start, that’s a good indication you need to keep looking. Counselors are well-aware of this research and can help you find others who may be a good fit. Don’t give up.
What the Letters Mean
In Colorado, there are several different licensed professionals who can provide psychotherapy: Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSW), Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC), Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFT), Licensed Psychologists, and Licensed Addiction Counselors (LAC).
Becoming licensed is a long process that includes attending graduate school and working under the supervision of a licensed professional for 2-3 years. So some of these licenses may have an extra “C” (for candidate) because they’re still earning hours to become fully licensed in Colorado.
You can look up someone’s license in Colorado to confirm that it’s active and ask your therapist about what the letters mean. Counselors have broad training in mental health, licensed clinical social workers have a breadth of experience working with government healthcare systems (and providing therapy), psychologists have post-graduate degrees that focus on research and assessment, marriage and family therapists focus on (yep) couples and family therapy, and addiction counselors have advanced training and supervision in working with substance abuse.
Where to Look
Psychology Today is a really common place to start. Enter your location and filter for other details (like gender, religion/faith background, or issues) to see who provides therapy services in your area. Asking your friends or physician for recommendations can also be helpful. Most therapists will offer a free phone consultation, so let’s talk about how to make the best use of it.
What to Do When You Find Someone
Consultation Calls
You may be able to have a therapist call you to talk for about 15 minutes about what you’re looking for and how they can help. Expect them to ask some variation of “Why therapy, and why now?”. They may also ask questions about previous trauma, current substance use, previous psychiatric hospitalization, or self-harm/suicide attempts to help determine whether they can support you. And they also should give you a chance to ask them any questions that you have about their practice or approach. I encourage people to ask the therapist about how that therapist’s approach could help them with what they’re wanting to achieve from treatment. Ask what a typical session might feel like - and listen internally to how you feel when you’re on the phone. Remember, the relationship is the most important component.
How Therapy Feels Early On
The first session usually involves talking a lot about your background/history and what you’re wanting to get out of therapy. It may feel a little awkward or scary at first if you’ve never been to therapy before. Therapists try to give you a lot of space so you can tell your story and they can get to know you. Here’s what you should definitely be sensing: that you are being listened to in a deep, unique way. Good therapists spend a lot of time listening in the early sessions - you know way more than they do about your issues for a while.
In the first few weeks of therapy, the therapist should be trying to help you form a trusted relational bond, align on a focus of why you’re there (even if it’s broad), and work with you to get a clear picture of how the treatment is going to help you with your focus.
Here are some examples of good verses bad focuses for therapy…
Bad Focus = “I want to finally be in a relationship that isn’t XYZ” (that’s a life goal)
Good Focus = “I want to understand why many of my relationships turn out like XYZ and take active steps toward changing how I show up in relationships that contribute to XYZ” (this is a good internal focus).
Finding a therapist is hard - therapists know this and try to give you everything you need to determine if they’ll be a good fit for what you need. It’s still scary to reach out - and we’ve all been there. I think all good therapists have been in their own treatment and get what it feels like, so know you’re not alone.
Colorado Springs is a unique place — a city full of capable, driven people who are often more comfortable pushing through difficulty than asking for help. If that sounds familiar, you're not alone. The active and retired/veteran military community is also a major part of our city. The challenges and experience of being in the military are really unique, so if you can find a therapist who is also a veteran, use search tools on PsychologyToday. If you’re having trouble, reach out. I’m a veteran and know a lot of prior service counselors in the city.
I work from a counseling perspective that values depth, insight, and relationship — because I think it’s ultimately the relationship with a therapist that heals us. Finding a therapist who works that way can be difficult, but we’re definitely out there. If you're wondering whether we might be a good fit, I offer a free 15-minute consultation — no commitment, just a conversation. If I am not a good fit for your needs, I’ll help point you in the right direction.