How to Find a Therapist in Denver

Denver is a vibrant and fast-growing city, and there’s so much about it that’s fun and interesting. We are exactly one mile high and we enjoy 300 days of sunshine a year. Our downtown area is one of the most walkable in the nation. We also have the second highest educated population in America.

Of course what goes along with all that growth is we have terrible traffic, most of us have to drive to work, or to appointments, and a lot of us are transplants working in high pressure jobs. Understandably, a lot of people move here and soon realize that they need some extra support, and you might be one of those people.

Unfortunately, I’ve heard from a lot of locals that finding a therapist can be challenging. You might call or email several practitioners in directories only to hear back from one or two, and even at that, you might not hear back from them for a week. If you receive a list from your insurance company, you might only find one or two out of ten therapists on that list who are actually accepting new clients, and sometimes, it turns out that they aren’t even in-network with your insurance any longer.

Make a list of the things that are most important to you in your search for a therapist. Are you looking for someone who specializes in a particular type of problem or therapeutic technique? Is it essential that the therapist accept your insurance or can you pay out of pocket? Do you need virtual services? Do you need someone who offers weekend appointments or evenings? Is it important that the therapist’s office is near your work or home? It would be nice if you can find someone who checks all the boxes, but at least if you have a clear idea of what your priorities are going in, you can narrow your search accordingly.

The best referrals usually come from someone you know or at least someone who has a personal connection with therapists. If you feel comfortable, asking a friend or co-worker for suggestions could be good. Other good sources of referrals are your primary care doctor, OB/GYN (if you have one) or even your local urgent care office. If you see a dentist, physical therapist, or other specialist, they might have some suggestions for you to.

It’s also a good idea to enlist the support of a good friend, even if they need to provide you with remote support because this can feel like a daunting task. I know that if you are seeking therapy, you’re already having a difficult time. and it’s a shame that we don’t have more direct guidance in place in most situations for people who are looking for help. The good news is you have a wider selection of practitioners than being assigned to whoever the behavioral health specialist is at your HMO.

Speaking of HMOs, if you receive benefits through Kaiser Permanente in Colorado, you need to receive authorization through them to see a behavioral health provider. When you call them, you will actually be referred to their administrator for behavioral health benefits, Beacon Health Options (formerly Value Options.) The number for Kaiser Members is 303-471-7700.

One way you might be able to “test drive” a therapist is to ask your benefits manager at work if an Employee Assistance Plan (EAP) is available. Typically, you can receive between three and six sessions at no charge to you. At that point, you often can either see the therapist you’re working with for longer or receive referrals to other therapists.

My schedule is currently fairly full, but I have an intern, Shea Herlihy-Abba who is accepting clients. He can be reached on his cell for a free 15-minute consultation.