Finding the Right Therapy and Counseling in Davis
Davis, CA and its nearby communities can be a wonderful place to live, from the beautiful drives past almond orchards to music and honey festivals to the cool morning air. But even somewhere as vibrant as this, life can be overwhelming. If you’ve been searching for therapy or counseling in Davis with someone who is able to see beyond the beauty around us to the pain and anguish you are going through, you may already know how hard it can be to begin. When is the right time? Where do you begin? Is therapy even right for you? These are excellent questions and not having the answers can stall getting the kind of help you need.
Choosing a therapist is about more than just schedule or location although those can be important. The therapy relationship requires trust for it to work. For many of my clients, the search itself can feel like another mountain to climb: “What if I don’t like the therapist? What if they don’t understand me?” Those feelings are normal. Therapy works best when you feel safe, understood, and supported, which is why finding the right therapy isn’t just a logistical choice, it’s an emotional one. So take a breath, this guide is going to empower you on your search!
Quick Answer: How Do I Find the Right Therapist in Davis?
Start by naming what you’re struggling with (anxiety, trauma, relationship stress, etc.), then search Psychology Today or your insurance provider’s directory using filters for specialty, insurance, and format (in-person or video). Narrow your list to 15–20 therapists, and use a free 15-minute consultation call to ask questions. Trust your gut — if you feel heard and understood, book a first appointment. Most people know within two or three sessions whether it’s a good fit. Credentials to look for include LCSW, LMFT, LPCC, and PsyD/PhD — all are licensed to provide therapy, though specialties differ.
Why Finding the Right Therapist Matters
There are lot of options for support when it comes to coping with life’s difficulties. Many clients come to me seeing therapy as a last resort. They know things aren’t right somehow, they have no energy or are easily irritated. Or just haven’t been themselves lately. Or feel like Sisyphus, trying to climb the hill but the ball keeps rolling back down on them. And there are the self-help books and apps, working out, taking meds from the doctor, talking with friends, but none of that has brought the relief they were looking for. This is already enough and why, when you’ve decided that it’s time to try therapy, finding the right therapist matters.
What does it mean to find the right therapist or counselor?
The right therapist or counselor for you is one where you feel safe, at least safe enough for a beginning. Someone with whom trust builds gradually, deepening over time, so you can be open and get the help you need.
I tell my clients that I track progress in our sessions, and if therapy isn’t working, we will talk about it, change our approach, or I will refer them to someone I think can provide the help they need. The right therapist cares about how well therapy is working for you, that you are experiencing change in the right direction. Does it mean this will be easy? Not always. But many clients tell me that they feel relief or a lightening with the first few sessions.
Take a moment and think about the characteristics you want in your therapist or counselor. What matters most is how much you feel that the therapist “gets” what you are saying, how seen and heard you feel. Consider their experience and knowledge of the issue that you are struggling with. You may also want someone who values your diverse background, beliefs or values.
Finding the right therapists allows you to open up, be vulnerable and experience change, even if it takes time. The time you take now to find the right therapist is the key to you getting to where you want to be with your mental health.
The Different Types of Therapists in Davis and its nearby communities
When you search for therapy or counseling in Davis, California, you’ll notice a variety of letters after people’s names: LCSW, LMFT, LPCC, Psychologist, PsyD, PhD. There are lots of options when it comes to types of therapists you can work with and they each have a slightly different focus in their training and different range of what they can offer. Also notice the “L” in some of these, it means “licensed.” Here’s what all that means in simple terms:
LCSWs (Licensed Clinical Social Workers): The focus is on mental health, both treating it and paying attention to the effects of the larger context of your environment.
LMFTs (Licensed Marriage & Family Therapists): The specialization is in relationships, families, and couples.
Psychologists (PhD or PsyD): The area of expertise is therapy and sometimes psychological testing (for example, cognitive or psychological neurological testing.)
LPCCs (Licensed Professional Clinical Counselors): Focused on individual and group therapy.
Sometimes people ask about working with coaches. Coaches are not able to provide therapy, nor is their industry regulated like that of a therapist. Therapists have to meet requirements for ongoing continuing education, they have ethics codes they are required to follow, and they are regulated by a state board.
Any of the above licenses are trained in providing therapy. I am an LCSW who specializes in working with trauma, depression, anxiety, and panic using, amongst other approaches, EMDR. This means that in addition to my graduate training, I have post graduate training in trauma treatment, and I also have certification in providing EMDR.
Look beyond the letters and you might discover that the therapists you are looking at have other specialized training. Many therapists pick unique paths and specializations as they grow in their career, which means you get an opportunity to find someone who is an expert in what you need. While the training paths differ, what matters most is how comfortable, safe, and supported you feel in the room.
What Therapy Approaches Are Available?
Therapy and counseling come in many forms. When people think about therapy, they often think about talk therapy, two people in conversation the entire time. This is considered the more traditional form of therapy which in itself includes a mix of various methodologies and theories. Recently I have also seen more people advertising “somatic” work which may not be delivered by a licensed professional. One somatic-type therapy is EMDR (Eye Movement and Desensitization and Reprocessing) which is a powerful approach for trauma healing.
In my practice I find the best approach is a personalized one that reflects individual style and resonates with the client. Here is a brief summary of some commonly used and tested therapies:
· EMDR, widely used for trauma and PTSD, helps people process distressing memories by pairing brief recall with bilateral stimulation (using, for example, ”buzzers” or eye movements).
· Parts Work/ IFS (Internal Family Systems)/Inner Child focuses on helping the person's core "Self" build compassionate awareness and meet the needs of emotional parts, reducing inner conflict and emotional reactivity.
· Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people accept difficult thoughts and feelings rather than fighting them, while committing to actions aligned with their core values.
· Cognitive Behavioral Therapy CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) is a structured approach (usually with homework) that assists people to identify and change unhelpful thought patterns and behaviors that contribute to emotional distress. Cognitive Processing Therapy is CBT for adults with trauma.
· DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy) combines cognitive-behavioral techniques with mindfulness and acceptance strategies, teaching concrete skills in distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness.
· Polyvagal Theory teaches what happens in the body in the fight, flight, or rest responses, providing clients with tools and awareness for nervous system regulation.
Some therapists specialize in one approach while others are trained in several.
Practical Steps to Choosing a Therapist in the Davis area
If you have decided it is time for therapy and you know how to find options, the next step is sorting out how to sift through all the options. Here are some tips to help you get started.
1. Name the problem. Give some thought to how you would explain why you need therapy and what kind of therapy you need. Are you having frequent nightmares? Can’t get motivated? Or anxiety is stopping you sleeping?
Pro tip: Pay attention to what is happening in your body as you do this preparation. It will give you clues to what else you could tell a prospective therapist.
2. Get a feel for your options. Do a Google or Psychology Today search to see what comes up. Or call your insurance company and find out how to see their contracted therapists. Feel free to ask people you know if you are comfortable with that.
Pro tip: Look at the filters on Psychology Today. You have options to check for specialty, gender, in-person or video, types of therapy, ethnicity, and insurance. Your insurance website may do the same.
3. Decide on highly desired characteristics for your therapist (e.g. in-person or online, ethnic or religious preference, gender, fees) and make a list to call.
Pro tip: Although there are many options for counseling in Davis, start with the intention of a longer “shortlist,” maybe 15-20, and leave messages for each.
4. Use free 15-minute consultations and ask your questions.
Pro tip: Think about practical issues (when, where, how) and about what you’d like to get out of therapy. A change in how your feelings show up? An improvement in your relationships? Being better able to manage the seemingly endless heat and brightness of our long summers?
5. Trust your gut; if you feel heard and seen go for a first appointment. Usually the first two or three appointments are enough to decide if this is a good fit for you.
Pro tip: Research suggests that half of the good results from therapy come from the relationship between the therapist and the client. And we know that our “gut” or instinct comes from processing in our brain!
FAQs About Starting Therapy or Counseling
Let’s talk about other more general questions people ask before starting therapy:
What’s the difference between counseling and therapy and what you offer?
In this area, people use the words interchangeably. Whether someone says “counseling” or “therapy,” the focus is still on getting you the support you need. What is important is the therapist understanding you and having the knowledge and experience to help you effectively.How can I tell if a therapist is a “good fit”?
The term “good fit” is bandied around a lot. And it refers to all that we have talked about so far. But at the beginning, especially for someone new to therapy, it’s about paying attention to how you feel when you are talking with the prospective therapist. Understood? Safe? Connected? Of course, you don’t want to forget about things like gender and ethnicity at the beginning either, but therapy needs some sharing to get going and you want to be able to do at least a little of that from early on.
Should I do video or in-person therapy?
So much more is available now that we have both in-person and online options for many things in life but therapy can be a little different from work meetings or consultations with financial planners or housing supports. Your personality, communication style, and needs will help you determine which is better for you. Do you consistently have privacy and quiet where you could be on video? Do you want support and would feel this more strongly in person? Do you take in the energy of your environment and need the peaceful calm of a therapy office rather than the hectic state of home around you? Maybe you are able to find an hour for the appointment but not if you add travel to it. And don’t forget that you can change therapist if you decide that you need something different after the first few (or more) appointments.
How does insurance work?
Insurance can be complicated but there are a few pieces of knowledge that will help you navigate it. There are two main types of insurance in this area, HMOs and PPOs, and your insurance card will likely state which you have.
HMOs (Health Maintenance Organizations) can be less expensive than PPOs and require that you use their contracted providers (therapists, doctors, specialists) who are considered “in-network” (e.g. most Kaiser plans are HMOs). If you have an HMO and want the insurance to pay, you will have to use a therapist who accepts that insurance. Often therapists’ website or on Psychology Today entries will list which they accept. Your insurance company will also be able to provide you a list of providers. You will likely pay a copay, the amount depending on your particular plan.
PPOs (Preferred Provider Organizations) offer a wider choice of providers some of whom will be “in-network”, others “out-of network.” If you can find someone in-network, you will pay only the copay. If you find someone out-of-network, the insurance company will reimburse you for a portion of the cost of the session. Typically, the client will pay upfront, receive a regular “superbill” from the therapist, then submit for reimbursement from the insurance company. The amount of reimbursement will depend on your insurance, I have heard of anywhere from 100% reimbursement per session to $5 per session. I recommended that everyone checks this out with their insurance company before deciding on a therapist.
Do I have to do weekly sessions?
Not always. Every therapist has their own unique way of working with clients. Sometimes therapy will begin with weekly sessions then decrease to biweekly or less frequent as the client is able to practice and live into the changes that therapy has brought about. For some approaches, for example EMDR, I prefer to weekly sessions to keep in touch about changes and after-effects and keep the momentum going. And sometimes clients are not able to commit to weekly sessions with the demands and practicalities of life; biweekly progress will be correspondingly slower. Discussing this flexibility in your initial consultation call or first appointment is always a good idea.How will I know therapy is working?
A therapist will talk to you about your goals and monitor if you are making progress. Some therapists may use standardized questionnaires or measurement to get a baseline then for a periodic check-in. Of course, as you begin to uncover what is going on, your goals may shift and this is just part of growth and therapy. Your therapist will keep an eye on your progress overall and talk to you periodically about how things are working for you.
How long does therapy usually last?
This will depend on your goals, the situation in which you are seeking therapy, and what you have been struggling with. Some people come in for a few months around a specific issue, while others continue longer-term, for example, for complex trauma treatment. That said, it can be really helpful to discuss this with your prospective therapist during the initial consultation or first few sessions so you know what to expect.
Next Steps: Taking the First Step Toward Support
If you’re looking for therapy or counseling in Davis, CA, there are options to bring wellbeing to your life. You don’t have to figure it out on your own whether it is addressing anxiety, depression, trauma, panic, relationships, job changes, or life changes. Getting the help you need through therapy can open new doors and free you to walk through and move on.
Author Bio
Jean McSorley LCSW, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Davis, Ca. She specializes in treatment for trauma and attachment wounding and uses EMDR and other therapies to help clients find joy and inner safety previously unavailable to them. Jean is known for her work with complex mental health situations and for providing clinical supervision.