Looking for an online therapist in NYC?

You’re a New Yorker, through and through. Life is busy, fast-paced, and stimulating. Although, sometimes overbearing. You thrive in the frenetic energy of the city and don’t realize just how steeped in this culture you are until you leave the New York metropolitan area for a few days. Then, you probably notice that the rest of the world seems to move a whole lot slower than you do.

A young woman holding her hand to her chin looking deep in thought with many cartoon question marks surrounding her head.

This life can require a lot from you. And it can feel nearly impossible to add anything else to your plate. But you know that there are parts of life you’re missing out on. Or at least potentials that you’d like to explore. Your high-speed life has likely hindered you from getting into the dating scene or at least taking it seriously. And kids? Well, maybe you’ve always imagined yourself having a family of your own, but how can you expect yourself to add tiny human beings to your list of responsibilities when you’re hardly present for yourself?

At the end of the day, you know that talking to someone about the thoughts swirling in your head would be helpful. But finding a therapist in New York City who really gets it seems impossible. Or maybe you’ve been to therapy before and had a bad experience. Whatever the reason that’s kept you from searching for a quality therapist in New York City, it’s worth it to put that aside and give the search another chance. And there are so many added benefits of online therapy in New York versus in-person sessions for busy New Yorkers like yourself. Here is a guide of things to consider as you look for an online therapist in New York City.

1. Check out their internet presence. Find all of the content you can regarding the therapist(s) you are considering.

There are a couple of ways to learn about therapists from the internet. You can check out Psychology Today. Does their profile resonate with you? Then, find their website. When you peruse their website, is there anything that sticks out to you? Are they inclusive? Do they use language that you relate with? If you have a known diagnosis, do their services reflect treatment options that can help you?

Then, check out their Google reviews. Mind you, most ethical therapists discourage their clients from posting reviews – positive or negative – because of issues of confidentiality. But sometimes you can get a sense for someone based on the professional community that refers clients to them. These professionals will likely leave reviews on their Google My Business account.

And while you’re at it, take a look at their social media. Would you follow them for inspirational pick-me-ups or insightful therapy tidbits? If you are specifically searching for an online therapist in NYC, their online presence could be a gauge of their personality. So, if you find internet content you like, it could be an indication that you’d get along with this therapist, and means you should add them to your list of candidates!

Now, this isn’t foolproof science. But it can be a good starting point to help generate a list of a few therapists whose online presence feels like they could be a good fit for you.

2. Schedule consult calls with a few different therapists in New York City.

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Most therapists offer a free initial consultation over the phone or video call. This serves to help you get a sense of what it would be like to work with them. You can learn more about whether you are an appropriate candidate for online therapy, as well as the specific treatments they offer. Likewise, you can chat about logistics, like scheduling.

Sometimes, an initial consult call can feel awkward. Most of us are used to talking on the phone or using Zoom or Google Meet for work or other purposes nowadays. However, it can feel funky to talk to someone over the phone or Zoom about your vulnerable personal matters. But, a consult call can be a great way to ease into online therapy. And while you will meet with your therapist over video calls for actual sessions, the first conversation, over the phone or video call, is going to be a good way to gauge your feelings toward a particular therapist.

Many people take a bit to adjust to this format of therapy instead of in person. So, try not to take any nervousness or awkwardness as a definitive “yes” or “no” indicator for a particular therapist or even for online therapy as a whole. Instead, just try to get a feel for whether the therapist you are meeting seems engaged, interested in knowing more about you, and seems like someone you could imagine getting to know a little bit better. The therapeutic relationship will develop over time, so this consult can be used just to provide a preliminary sense of fit.

3. Make a commitment to yourself and to therapy.

Once you’ve decided on an online therapist you think you want to work with, make a commitment to yourself and to treatment. Identify a period of time (maybe 3-6 months to begin) that you can hold yourself accountable. Plan to attend sessions for this period of time without giving yourself excuses to quit or ghost your therapist. Once you have set a period of time for your treatment, you can decide whether a specific therapist is right for you.

Therapy can bring up a lot of difficult feelings you may not have felt or processed before. And the therapeutic relationship is often unlike any other you’ve ever experienced, so it is not unusual to have some reservations in the early stages. Instead of heading for the proverbial hills or quickly moving on to a different therapist hoping for a different experience, try letting your current therapist know that you have some concerns. Then, see whether you can utilize the therapeutic relationship to get your needs met. This can be a crucial phase in treatment. So don’t sell yourself, or your therapist, short by ending it prematurely. That said, if it is just absolutely clear that it isn’t going to work, try asking your current therapist for referrals. A good therapist should want to help you connect with the right counselor for you, not just convince you to stay with them!

If you have found a therapist that is a good match for your needs, stick with therapy for the time you allotted yourself. Once you’ve held yourself accountable for this period of time, not will not only feel proud and accomplished but you will also have worked toward some of your goals! And who knows, by that time, therapy sessions may be something you even look forward to.

Online Therapy in New York City at The Keely Group

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Our team hopes that this guide helps frame your search for an online therapist in NYC. If you are interested in working with one of the therapists at our New York City-based psychotherapy practice, please check us out! We provide a multitude of therapy services for busy-bodied high-achieving New Yorkers. If you’re interested in working on your dating life and relationships, we can help. Likewise, we provide executive coaching to assist you in your professional life. And our Latinx therapists provide counseling in Spanish if this is a resource you are looking for. At our practice, we are passionate about helping you put together pieces of a life that YOU want to live. Our goal is to help you create and be present in a life that you love.

And if you’d simply like some further guidance for finding your best-fit therapist in NYC, please schedule a consultation with us here. Even if you don’t choose our practice, we’d like to help you find one that resonates with you so you can piece together a mental wellness treatment plan. On the other hand, if you are ready to get started with online therapy at The Keely Group in NYC, contact us here.