The “IFS Therapist” Quest
10 Steps to Finding YOUR IFS Therapist
So you caught the bug and are intrigued with Internal Family Systems Therapy (IFS). Maybe you read one of the many books, heard about it on a podcast, or talked with a friend about their IFS experience, and now you are thinking that it’s time to start your own IFS journey. You have parts that are curious, excited, and hopeful. You are prepared for the quest!
Well, except for actually FINDING your therapist. So you are also feeling stuck. Either it is so confusing that you don’t know where to begin, or the efforts you have made so far have not been successful. Maybe the therapists you have searched or talked to so far
Do not have current openings
Are not available when you are available
Do not take your insurance
Are not workable financially
Just don’t fit your personality style
I get it. You also have parts that are confused, frustrated, overwhelmed. Trust me, it’s not just you. Here are some of the many reasons behind your frustration and overwhelm.
Searchability There is no singular place to search all of the therapists who are licensed to practice in your state. There are several online directories, but not all therapists are on every directory. Many therapists do not have a their own website because they are in such demand that they keep their practices full just by word of mouth. Many don’t have them because they lack the time, interest, or tech savvy to create one.
Supply & Demand IFS has become so popular that there is now that there is a supply and demand imbalance, in that there are more people seeking IFS therapy than there is IFS therapist availability. There is also a supply and demand imbalance of therapists trying to become trained by the IFS Institute. There are hundreds if not thousands of therapist applicants competing for about 50 spots for each training cohort. That means the “graduation rate” of IFS Institute trained therapists cannot keep up with the demand from people searching for IFS therapy. The institute is working hard to prepare more lead trainers, but the back log is definitely a thing.
Matchability There are many factors that go into finding the right therapist-client match, including the following:
The therapist needs to be licensed to practice in the state where you will be meeting or “logging on” from.
Whether the therapist meets your needs for online or in-person therapy
Whether you need to use your In-network (INN) or Out-of-Network (OON) insurance benefits
Schedule compatibility
Affordability
Vibe (more about that later
PRO TIP: While the process can require Patience and Persistence, the results can be truly wonderful. Once you find YOUR IDEAL IFS therapist, establish a relationship with them, and start seeing/feeling/experiencing the benefits of IFS therapy, you will be happy you put in the effort. If you read or hear testimonials from people who have been in IFS therapy for a while, you will often hear them report that after working with several other therapists, in several other modalities, or for several years, they have made much greater strides with their IFS work. Their symptoms start to decline. Their inner conflicts become more peaceful. Their self-compassion increases. Their confidence increases.
So…. how do I start!!??
Step One: Understanding ‘the business’ of therapy
Therapists can be found in many different settings and business structures. Some outpatient therapists are self-employed, some are employed by or contracted with agencies, some are part of group practices, and some contract with the big tech mental health app companies that have been sprouting up the past few years. Here is a brief explanation of each type, and some pros and cons of each. Note that there is a lot of fluidity in settings and offerings, so I use the word “may” and “might” and “often” frequently, using a lot of generalizations. For the best answers, be sure to ask the questions that are important to you when you start making those calls.
Solo Private Practice
Many therapists “hang their own shingle” as a self-employed private practice therapist, often after having been employed in one or more mental health settings in the past. They are now their own boss. They either hire out some or all of the administrative aspects of their work (ex. billing, scheduling, marketing), or they may do it all themselves. They can have an LLC or SCorp business structure or even have a business name that is not their own, but it’s definitely their own gig.
Pros:
o Therapists tend to stay in private practice for a long time, often into retirement, so there is less chance that they will leave for another job/position.
o Private practice therapists often have background experience in other areas of the mental health field, for example in agencies, schools, hospitals, college counseling centers, etc.
o PP Therapists tend to be less “burned out” because they set their own weekly schedules and vacation time and curate their own caseload to their specific interests/expertise.
Cons:
o The financial outlay may be higher than other options, unless the PP therapist is in your health insurance’s network or you negotiate a “sliding fee” slot.
o Therapists in PP are less likely to be on all insurance panels, and possibly on none of them (private pay only).
Private Group Practices
Sometimes one or more therapists will form a group practice that is either more general in their offerings, or tailored to a more specific group pf people (ex Trauma Treatment, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Family Therapy, etc). They will either hire or contract with other therapists to provide therapy under their group umbrella, perhaps handling some of the administrative tasks such as scheduling, credentialing with insurance companies, and billing.
Pros:
o They may be more likely to be in-network with a greater number of health insurance panels.
o They “may” provide lower rate or free therapy by being a clinical site for internships for students in degree programs..
Cons:
o If seeing an intern, this will likely be short-term until their internship ends (unless they get hired by the group practice).
Mental Health Agencies
A mental health agency is contracted with, and receives compensation from, individual states to provide mental health services to the residents of that state, and they can either hire therapists as employees or bring them on as independent contractors.
Pros:
o They are most likely to be in-network with a variety of health insurance panels, including federal and state funded insurances such as Medicare and Medicaid.
o They may also offer “case management” services as well, if that is needed
o Greater likelihood of having access to a psychiatrist within the agency
Cons:
o There is usually a “productivity” expectation for therapists in agencies, which can be as high as 30+ clients per week. That is a lot of clinical hours in this line of work, leading to higher rates of therapist burnout and turnover, meaning that you may have to find or be assigned a new therapist more often.
o Supply and demand issues. Some agencies have more clients than available therapist slots, creating difficulties in scheduling the ideal of weekly appointments, and interrupting the momentum of therapy.
Mental Health Apps
There have been many mental health apps that have sprung up over the past few years, with an enormous amount of advertising. These businesses are own by tech companies, not mental health experts or therapists.
Pros:
o The advantages of metal heath apps tend to boil down to ease, accessibility, and affordability (though the cost can actually run in the hundreds of dollars a month depending on the app and how it is used – make sure you research for clarity).
o Not dealing with health insurance requirements and details, as it is all out-of-pocket.
Cons:
o The structure of “texting therapy” as a means of communicating between therapist and client doesn’t really lend itself to the IFS model.
o These are tech companies, not owned by mental health experts. As such, many clinical and ethical concerns have been raised in the mental health field and among professional associations, including those outlined below.
o Privacy concerns. Therapists, clients and even US Senators have expressed concern about the small print Data Privacy and Sharing practices of these apps. Counselors, Social Workers, and Psychologists adhere to very strict rules and ethics regarding confidentiality and HIPAA compliance that are not consistent with those spelled out by tech companies offering mental health services. As of this writing, several members of the US Senate have called on these companies to answer to these privacy concerns.
o As with any publicly traded company, there is a risk that shareholder profitability can overshadow customer service, or in this case, clinical outcomes.
o A common complaint is that therapists are significantly underpaid for their level of education, leading to high turnover
o There is no research/data showing effectiveness of “text therapy” in general. In fact, many therapists argue that it’s much more difficult to accurately assess a client’s diagnosis and needs or to track their progress without seeing them either through telehealth or in-person. It is also argued that regular, weekly sessions help clients experience and practice boundaries, which can then be translate to and be implemented within their own lives.
Again, there are a lot of generalizations here and even trying to get feedback in a FB group just for therapists led to some disagreement in terms of pros/cons. Please use this as general educational guideline as you begin the process. Be sure to ask potential therapist specifically if any of these things are of concern to you.
STEP TWO: Understanding the Alphabet Soup
What’s with all of the letters after a therapist’s name?
Some letters refer to educational degrees attained, and some refer to the state license held by the therapist.
Educational Degrees Letter groupings that start with M, P, or D generally refer to a Master’s Level or Doctoral Level of education. Here are a few examples:
MA: Master’s of Arts in a degree program
MS: Master’s of Science in a degree program
MSW: Master’s Degree in Social Work
PhD: Doctoral of Philosophy
PsyD: Doctor of Psychology
DSW: Doctor of Social Work
States Licenses Letter groupings that begin with an L generally indicate the therapist’s license. For example:
LCPC: Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor
LMHC: Licensed Mental Health Counselor
LCSW: Licensed Clinical Social Worker
There are so many different configurations that even we therapists get confused sometimes. Being able to “Google” the letters you have questions about can help. Simply enter the letters in question + Mental Health and you should be able to find the answer. If not, you can ask the therapist directly.
STEP THREE: Setting Up Your Organizational System
It’s rare to find your ideal therapist on your first try. Sometimes it takes many, many attempts, and it can be easy to forget details and lose track of sticky notes. So before you start making those phone calls and sending emails, it will be very helpful to establish a system to keep track of who you talked to, their contact information, who has openings, which wait-list you are on, what their fees are, etc. Keeping all of this information in one spot will be crucial in your IFS Therapist Quest.
Here is some information that would be helpful to track:
· Name of therapist
· Contact info (phone, email, link to website or directory listing)
· Degree (ex: MA, MSW, PhD, or PsyD)
· License & State (ex LCPC in Maine)
· Insurance Info (are they In Network (INN) for your insurance? If not, and your insurance policy has Out of Network Benefits (OON), will the therapist give you receipts for reimbursement?
· Cost
· Openings? (now? Wait list? Call back when they expect openings?)
· Availability? (Weekly? Dates/Times available?)
· When/how you reached out (ex: date, email/phone message)
· Notes (scheduled meet & greet or phone calls, next steps, outstanding questions, etc.)
ACTION STEP: Create a system to keep track of your search
Spreadsheet: ((Link to one on my website and/or insert a sample one here))
Empty Notebook with a page for each therapist you contact
PRO TIP: Before proceeding to the next steps, be aware that just because directory listings say that a therapist is full, that information may not necessarily be current or accurate. If you find “the one” and their online profile or website says that they are full, it may be worth giving them a call anyway. Sometimes therapists are on the verge of having a new opening, or they haven’t had a chance to update their profile/website to reflect that they do, in fact, have availability.
STEP FOUR: The IFS Institute Directory
Therapists trained by the IFS Institute, the organization created by IFS Founder Richard Schwartz, is the official training program for therapists and offers graduates of their trainings a spot on their website’s directory.
PLEASE NOTE THAT:
Not ALL therapists trained by the Institute are in the IFS Institute directory
The directory is an opt-in service, so if the IFS Institute trained therapists do not actively list themselves, then they will not be found there. Because many therapists were trained by the institute prior to the directory being made available, they may not even be aware that it exists
Not all people listed in the directory are therapists
Something that is unique about the IFS Institute is that they allow non-therapists to also apply for and attend the trainings. So there may be medical professionals, mediators, professional coaches, and even people who simply have a personal interest in IFS in attendance. Instead of being referred to as an IFS Therapist, these folks are called IFS Practitioners. While they can become highly trained and experienced in IFS, they do not have the extensive mental health education, degrees, or licenses that are required for Counselors, Social Workers, and Psychologists. If you have no major mental health concerns and do not need to use your health insurance, then an IFS Practitioner may be sufficient for your needs. However, if you have a history of mental health issues, please make sure to find a trained and licensed therapist.
IFS THERAPIST: Has extensive education, degree(s), experience, and professional licensing in the mental health field as a counselor, social worker, or psychologist, and has completed at least Level 1 of training with the IFS Institute.
IFS PRACITIONER: Does not have a mental health degree or license, but has completed Level 1 training with the IFS Institute, often practicing as a Life Coach.
There are other ways therapists can “train” in IFS
Though the IFS Institute offers the most thorough, comprehensive, institute-approved trainings in IFS, and these trainings are the only path toward therapists becoming a Certified in the model, there are other ways that therapists can learn IFS and incorporate it into their work with clients. For example, they can read the many books published by Certified IFS therapists, or they can take trainings through other organizations. These therapists will not be found in the IFS Institute Directory.
To search the IFS directory, simply enter any key terms that are important to you including location, level of training, type of degree/license, etc. Each search result will have a VIEW hyperlink that will take you to additional information about each therapist/practitioner.
Note that there are 3 different levels of trainings, Levels 1-3. The higher the number, the greater number of trainings completed by the institute. A therapist must complete at least Level 1 to be in the directory.
There is also a rigorous Certification process that therapists may complete if they choose to do so. IFS Certification is the highest honor bestowed by the institute. Candidates must attain a certain number of IFS Institute trainings, a certain number of consultation hours with an approved Certified Therapist, demonstrate a comprehensive understanding and application of the model through a video recorded therapy session, and complete an extensive application. You can be assured that a Certified IFS Therapist is thoroughly trained and vetted by the IFS Institute.
ACTION STEP: Search Find a Professional on the online directory at https://ifs-institute.com/ and add them to your list!
STEP FIVE: Other Online Therapist Directories
First a word of caution. Some online directory websites are created by companies who simply gather public information about therapists from other online sources, create their own listings, and maybe add a review feature. These are not voluntary listings. The therapists themselves have not chosen to be on these websites, and thus the information on the sites may be either incomplete, inaccurate, or even direct the person searching to a Big Box Therapy company. Just be sure that the directory you are visiting lists therapists who have actually opted-in so that you know the information is accurate.
Below is a list of credible, generally accurate, and searchable website directories you may want to visit. Do note that not every therapist is going to be in every directory. Some cost up to a few hundred dollars each year to be listed, so it’s not practical for therapists to be on every site. The first site listed, Psychology Today, is probably the largest directory, but many therapists do not list there for various reasons.
PRO TIP: As you are searching the directories, be aware that just because a therapist lists that they use IFS therapy, that does not mean they are trained by the IFS Institute, or in any way really. Online directories are by self-report, so I could say that I specialize in IFS without ever having taken a training (please see the section below, STEP NINE: The Interview).
Some Searchable Therapist Directories Include:
o Psychology Today https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists
o Therapy Den https://www.therapyden.com/
o Good Therapy https://www.goodtherapy.org/
o Zen Care https://zencare.co/
o Therapy Tribe https://www.therapytribe.com/
o Mental Health Match https://mentalhealthmatch.com/
o LatinX Therapy https://latinxtherapy.com/find-a-therapist/
o Inclusive Therapists https://www.inclusivetherapists.com/
o Glimmer https://weglimmer.com/#/
ACTION STEP: Search the databases above, or others you find online, and the add names of therapist-hopefuls to your list!
STEP SIX: Web Search
As previously mentioned, not all therapists or group practices will have their own website. Either they are content with word-of-mouth referrals or they don’t have the time or tech savvy to make one themselves or hire it out. But more and more therapists are getting their own websites, so let the internet be your friend! Using Google as your search engine can be extra valuable as some therapist have listed their businesses with them. Use search terms that are relevant to you, like
IFS + Therapist + [your location]
Play around with alternate search terms to get different/alternate results like
therapy,
counselor,
counseling,
mental health, etc.
If you don’t get many results for your specific location, broaden your range to the largest city in your area. If you are looking for telehealth, then location isn’t as important as long as they are licensed in the state where you reside or plan to log on, so search by your state or other large cities in your state.
As you enter your search terms, a bunch of paid advertising will likely pop up first as well as some corporate, high SEO websites. Scroll down and then through a few pages to search for private therapist websites. Private practice therapists may be a rock stars at mental health but are not SEO experts, so they are unlikely to rank high in search results.
PRO TIP: Please note that reading online reviews may be helpful in your search, but take them with a grain of salt. Like any business, therapists can receive unfair poor reviews from disgruntled former clients, and in this profession therapists are not allowed to reply to those complaints due to our confidentiality rules and guidelines. Additionally there are trolls who don’t even know the therapist and leave negative reviews for no reason on at all. If you seen nine great reviews and one awful one, don’t be easily swayed by the negative one.
ACTION STEP: Enter your search terms, add names to your list!
STEP SEVEN: Health Insurance
If you plan to use your health insurance for your therapy, there are two ways to do so, either In-Network (INN) or Out-of-Network (OON).
In-Network (INN)
If you find an IFS therapist who is in-network with your health insurance company, this will likely be the most affordable option for you, assuming you do not have a giant deductible. You will see the therapist, pay your deductible/copay/coinsurance according to your policy, and the therapist will bill your insurance company for the remainder.
Out of Network (OON)
If you do not find any IFS therapists who are In-Network for your policy, ask your insurance company if your policy has Out-of-Network benefits. If it does, the amount that you pay to the therapist may be partially or fully reimbursed and count toward your OON deductible.
Be sure to ask a prospective therapist if they are fine with OON reimbursement for services. If so, the therapist will either provide you with a fancy receipt for you to submit to your insurance company for reimbursement, or the therapist may submit the receipt themselves, known as “courtesy billing,” and the insurance company will send you a check.
Note that not all therapists are willing to participate in OON, as any type of insurance reimbursement, even OON, means that the insurer can audit of the therapists records at any time. These therapists decline being an OON Provider due to privacy concerns, potential administrative hassle, and/or fear of “clawbacks” whereby the insurer retroactively denies the claims.
ACTION STEP: Contact your Health Insurance Company and
1. Ask for a list of in-network therapists in your area/state, and cross reference their list with the IFS Therapists list you are building
2. Ask whether your policy has Out of Network Benefits. A detailed list of questions can be found here {CLICK}
3. Get clarity from your insurance on exactly how much the therapy will cost to you (deductible, copay, coinsurance, etc).
BONUS STEP: Cross Reference with State Licensing Boards
Now that you have your list compiled, and extra bonus step is checking the therapists license to make sure it’s all legit. Most of the time everything is above-board, but it can be nice to double-check. Every state has an online listing of professionals who are licensed or registered withing their state, including therapists. These listings will tell you if that therapist
· Is currently licensed
· Whether there has been any disciplinary action has been taken against that therapists license, and their current status.
Please note that not all board complaints against therapists are credible, not all credible complaints are equal in egregiousness, and not all board disciplinary actions are created equal.
ACTION STEP: Rule out any therapists on your list who are not properly credentialed, registered, or licensed to your satisfaction.
STEP EIGHT: Start Reaching Out!
Once your list is complete, it is time to start making those calls and sending those emails!
Check to see if the therapist offer a free consultation. If you do not see it offered on their website or online profile, it’s okay to ask. Most therapists are just as interested in finding a good match as you are.
I don’t think there is any preference on the part of therapists for whether you email or call them, so whichever you prefer is fine. My only suggestion would be to not leave a lot of confidential information in an email.
If you do not hear back from a therapist within a few days, it could mean a few different things. They could be full and haven’t made the time to call you back. They may be disorganized themselves, and don’t have a good method for returning calls Feel free to reach out again if you are not having luck finding a match, letting them know that if they don’t have openings, you’d b interested in talking with them to see if they have any suggestions for you.
ACTION STEP: Make those calls, send those emails, document each one and every interaction you have with a prospective therapist.
STEP NINE: The Interview
Okay you may have heard this advice about job interviews, and it applies here as well. You are interviewing the therapist as much as they are interviewing you to determine compatibility. Below are some questions you can ask, specifically about IFS and in general.
Asking all of these questions may bring up some parts that feel nervous or uncomfortable, but I’m going to give you permission to BLAME IT ON ME. I’ll take the fall for you! Tell them you don’t mean to sound demanding or anything, but you read a blog post by Cherie something or other and that you really want to make sure you find the right match, someone who is really well trained and uses IFS a lot.
Questions specific to IFS
· Are you (and how are you) trained in IFS?
· Did you receive your training by the IFS Institute or elsewhere?
· Do you receive regular consultation from a Certified IFS Therapist?
· Are you in any other sort of IFS peer group to keep your skills sharp?
· Do you read a lot about IFS?
· Do you use IFS a lot with your clients?
· Are you skilled at doing ‘unburdenings’ with your clients when they are ready?
General Questions + Considerations
o Financial Match
o Schedule compatibility
o Session Frequency. Do you expect weekly sessions? Do you offer weekly sessions?
o If they themselves are not a match, do they have suggestions who might be?
VIBE
Lastly, I’d like to encourage you to also listen to your gut, or your different parts, when talking with potential therapists. See if you can do the meet & greet online or in person instead of over the phone so you can really get a sense of them, feel their vibe, and pay attention to your comfort level in that conversation. It is normal that you will feel a little nervous or hesitant when first meting your new therapist. But if you are feeling any red flags, it’s okay to ask if you can do a little more research before scheduling or to simply thank them for their time and move on.
Please don’t worry about hurting the therapist’s feelings by not scheduling with them. Your comfort level in the therapeutic relationships is arguably more important than the treatment modality. Seriously. I’d rather you get therapist from a non-IFS therapist that you feel comfortable with than an IFS therapist with whom you do not.
ACTION STEP: Narrow down your list, and start making those calls starting with the best match/greatest interest to lowest. Keep track of every detail of those calls and meet/greets on your spreadsheet or in your notebook.
STEP TEN: Make that choice!
Hopefully by now you have found at least one IFS therapist who will be a great match for you! Narrow it down to one based upon your notes and your instincts and go ahead and schedule that appointment!
If you do not find a therapist, you can repeat any/all of the steps above to find new names to add to your list. Or you can reach out again to the therapists on the list, letting them know that you are having a difficult time finding someone and asking if they can be of any help. Therapists are helpers by nature, and if they can make the time, and have a referral name in mind, they would be happy to help out.
When you do start your IFS experience, know that you are not only developing a relationship with your therapist, you are also beginning a whole new relationship with yourself and your inner landscape.
With all of my heart, I wish you tremendous amounts of Courage, Confidence, Compassion, Clarify, Curiosity, Creativity, Calm, Connectedness, Presence, Persistence, Patience, Playfulness, and Perspective as you begin your IFS JOURNEY.
