The musician Prince once joked with Oprah that he’d always live in Minnesota because “it’s so cold it keeps the bad people out.” Since there are no bad people in Minnesota, it must mean that there are no bad Minnesota therapists. Right? While that might be true, the more important reality is your need to find a therapist that is a good fit for you and your concerns. This process can be overwhelming sometimes. Especially when it seems like all the good therapists are full, don’t take your insurance, or don’t return your calls. This guide will provide you with all the necessary information to help you find the best mental health care provider in the state that meets your individual needs.
Where Can I Find Therapists Near Me?
Online Directories
There are a few easy places to start. First, a simple google search for “therapists near me” can yield good results. This google search will also bring up therapist directories where you can enter your zip code and search through local therapists. One of the most popular directories is a website called Psychology Today. You can filter your search for specific types of therapists and the health insurances they accept.
For example, here is an image showing the results when I searched for therapists in Northfield, Minnesota (zip code 55057). I can see a list of 30+ Minnesota therapists near me that say they are accepting new clients.
In addition to Psychology Today, here are some other helpful national therapist directories:
Get a List from your Health Insurance Company
A second place to look for a therapist would be a provider directory through your health insurance. If you plan to use your health insurance, you can usually get a list of providers online or by calling up your health insurance company. This can be helpful for finding a therapist that accepts your insurance, but sometimes the therapists are full and not accepting new clients. It is usually a good idea to find out about your out-of-network benefits to see what it would cost you to meet with a therapist that is not in-network. Every plan is different, but some have good out-of-network benefits for mental health care.
Here is a list of questions that we encourage our clients to ask their health insurance representative:
(1) What is my out-of-network coverage for outpatient mental health visits?
(2) Is there a deductible that needs to be met prior to services? How much of my deductible has been met this year?
(3) Is there a limit on the number of sessions my plan will cover per year? If Yes, How many?
(4) Is there an “allowed” amount that would be reimbursed.
(5) Do I need pre-authorization in order to start therapy? For example, do I need a referral from an in-network provider or a primary care physician to see someone out-of-network?
(6) How do I submit claims for out-of-network reimbursement?
(7) Are virtual outpatient mental health visits (or tele-therapy) covered by my plan?
(8) I have an example superbill here from my therapist. Can you tell me exactly how much I would be reimbursed for the following services (individual, group, couples therapy)?
(9) Is there anything else I need to know about utilizing my out of network benefits (limitations, rules, or other “small print” things to know).
Ask People that you Trust
A third way to find a therapist is to ask people that you trust. Friends and family can be a great resource. They will often have personal experiences with different therapists and might know of therapists that do not have an online presence.
Depending on your level of comfort, you could post your question on online forums, “Who knows of a good therapist that is accepting new clients?” Several online forums will allow you to make an anonymous post. For example, my town’s private facebook group will sometimes get posts from “anonymous group member” asking about local therapists.
Connect with Organizations that Addresses your Area of Concern
If you are needing therapy for a particular concern (depression, disordered eating, trauma, marital problems, etc.) you can often find therapists (and other mental health resources) through a national or local association, network, or helpline. For example, folx seeking treatment for ADHD can find a great resource directory on the CHADD website (Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder). CHADD also has local affiliates for support with people near your home town. In Minnesota you can attend the Twin Cities Southwest Metro ADHD Connection Meetings in the Eden Prarie Mall on Monday evenings. You can ask people there what Minnesota therapists are good for working with ADHD. You can also find out other professionals that know how to work with ADHD (and mental health processionals that don’t know how to work with ADHD).
The people in these organizations can provide you invaluable information, and help you connect with therapists that can meet your needs. Here are a just a few other examples of organizations that offer search tools to help you find a specialized therapist near you:
- Anxiety and Depression Association of America
- National Eating Disorders Association
- American Group Psychotherapy Association (to find a Certified Group Psychotherapist)
- National Center for PTSD
Connect with Resources Specific to Your Community/Identity
In addition to finding a therapist that specializes in your area of concern, it is important to find someone that can understand you and your context. If you are a person of color, here are some resources to consider when looking for a therapist:
- The Yellow Couch Collective, an online support group for Black women
- Therapy for Black Girls
- Black Mental Health Alliance
- The National Asian American Pacific Islander Mental Health Association, a nonprofit dedicated to the mental health and well-being of the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities.
- WeRNative, which provides Native American youth with tools for holistic health and growth, including mental health resources.
- Therapy for Latinx
If you hold identities within the LGTBQIAA+ community, here are some other resources that may be helpful:
National Organizations
LGBTQ+ Youth Are Not Alone
Online communities and mental health resources for LGBTQ+ students.
The Trevor Project (866) 488-7386
24/7 support for LGBTQ+ persons through phone (see above number), internet messaging, and text messaging (text START to 678-678). There are additional resources are on their website.
Trans Lifeline (877) 565-8860
A hotline and non-profit organization “offering direct emotional and financial support to trans people in crisis – for the trans community, by the trans community”. Callers can connect with support staff who speak Spanish.
The Asexual Visibility and Education Network (AVEN)
Informational resources for people who identify as asexual or are questioning. AVEN also includes information about romantic orientations (e.g., aromatic, grayromantic, and demiromantic).
National Queer and Trans Therapist of Color Network
Rest For Resistance
Narratives of queer persons of color written by queer persons of color.
National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance
A collection of LGBTQ+ Asian American, South Asian, Southeast Asian, and Pacific Islander organizations who aim to “promote visibility, educate our community, enhance grassroots organizing, expand collaborations, and challenge anti-LGBTQ bias and racism.”
In Minnesota
Minnesota’s LGBTQ+ Mental Health Providers’ Professional Network
South Central Minnesota Pride
A non-profit organization whose mission is to promote pride and visibility for LGBTQ and allied communities in South Central Minnesota. Each fall they run a pride festival in Mankato.
Transmission Ministry Collective
“Transmission Ministry Collective is an online community dedicated to the spiritual care, faith formation, and leadership potential of transgender, nonbinary, and gender-expansive Christians.” This organization hosts peer-run online support groups for general trans and nonbinary folx, trans Christians of color, and a gender exploration group for anyone who think they don’t “fit entirely in the cisgender box”. Other services include LGBTQ+ Bible studies, workshops, resources for family members of trans and gender expansive folx, and resources for ministry professionals.
OutFront Minnesota
OutFront Minnesota serves the GLBT and allied communities of Minnesota with a wide variety of programs and services
(612) 822-0127
Transforming Families Minnesota
Support for transgender, gender-nonconforming, and gender questioning youth and their families to come together.
(612) 321-8416
Establish Connection with Potential Therapists
Wow, so I have provided you with plenty of directories and resources to help you FIND a therapist. Now, hopefully your search has yielded some good therapists that seem like they might be a good fit. The next step is to reach out and see if you can actually connect. You never know if a therapist is available until they reach back out to you after you call, text, email or send in a contact form on their website. It is surprising how many therapists don’t respond to inquiries from potential clients. Sometimes therapists are so busy meeting with clients all day and attending to their own lives in the evenings that they are unavailable to return phone messages until late in the evening or a few days later. So, my recommendation is to reach out to a handful of therapists and see how many are available to do an initial consultation with you. Most therapists will do a free 10-15 minute consultation (some will do longer) to help you both determine fit.
I am a huge fan of “therapist shopping”. So, if you are in the privileged place of having multiple options, it can be a great idea to briefly meet with each and to see what it would be like to start therapy with each. You will also learn important information about payment.
How to Find Low Cost (or Free) Therapist in Minnesota?
If you are in financial need and needing to find low cost (or free) therapy, here is a video I made a couple years ago with eight ideas that may be helpful to you.
I wish you the best of luck in your search for a therapist! Our clinic offers online therapy services for adults in Minnesota as well as adult ADHD and autism testing services. Please feel free to look at our website to see if any of our Minnesota therapists would be a fit for you and your concerns. We offer free 15-minute consultations with potential clients to help determine fit.
