Happy 2020! The start of a new year is a great time for resetting and renewing commitments to self. This may also mean making new appointments to care for one’s physical and mental health. Unfortunately, difficulty with scheduling appointments may cause frustration. This feeling is valid. It is important to acknowledge the frustration while continuing on your journey. I am taking a moment to answer a couple of the common questions I receive as well as provide a few tips to help reduce the frustration.
Q: Why are so many therapists not accepting new patients?
A: Many factors may contribute to this including location, whether or not the therapist accepts insurance and whether or not the therapist works full time or part time.
Therapy typically involves consistent visits and many people set weekly appointments. The length of time one person is in therapy may vary greatly depending upon the person and what is being addressed. Therapy can last anywhere from a few sessions to a few years. Therefore, the 4pm on Fridays that you have your eye on may take as long as a year or more to become open.
Therapists who accept insurance tend to fill open time slots faster than those who do not. Many people rather pay a co-pay or deductible that in some instances is a third of what it would cost to pay out of pocket. Therefore, the practices that accept insurance tend to have a steady flow of people who want to schedule appointments.
Q: Why does my insurance directory list the therapist as accepting new clients when they are not accepting new clients?
A: One therapist may receive anywhere from 2 – 7 contacts (calls or emails) a day. Thus, the three time slots that were open may be filled in the matter of a few hours. This fast pace may create a delay in the update on the insurance provider’s directory.
Tips
1. Make a list of 5 – 10 therapists who you would like to work with and contact them.
Contacting more than one therapist at a time increases the likelihood that you will connect with one or two of them. Include group private practices on your list. A group private practice is a practice where more than one therapist provides times to see clients. Solo Practitioners (one therapist) tend to have less times available than group practices.
A few group practices here in Southern California include:
Wilshire Valley Therapy Center
Soultenders
New Day Psychotherapy Services
2. Ask for referrals.
When you speak to therapists who do not have the times that you need, ask them if they have any referrals. Many therapists have referral lists to provide to clients who transition out of treatment with them and/or for when their practice is full.
3. Engage your insurance provider
Many insurance providers have care advocates who can assist with finding therapists who have open slots. Contact the mental health/behavioral department within your insurance provider to inquire into the types of assistance that may be available.