I Wanted A New Therapist So I Tried The Therapy for Black Girls Directory

This directory helped me find a new therapist that I love

Medically reviewed by Monica Johnson, PsyDMedically reviewed by Monica Johnson, PsyD

It’s not easy to find the right therapist. You've got to sort through their credentials, see if they accept insurance (and many don't ), then try to find an appointment time that isn't months and months away. And all of this has to happen before the first session. In addition, it's even more difficult to find a BIPOC therapist, as more than 80% of the mental health providers in this country are white and only about 4% identify as Black or African-American.

I was looking for a therapist who could give me tips on balancing stress and dealing with the endless hats I wear as a wife, mother, business owner, and caregiver. But I was also hoping to find a therapist who could relate to my life experiences as a Black woman. I hoped to find a married Black female who has children, is a Christian, and assists her parents. Yes, it was a tall order—but I felt like someone who could relate to what I was going through could also give me realistic, helpful advice.

So I turned to Therapy for Black Girls, which is an online space dedicated to encouraging the mental wellness of Black women and girls—and one of the ways it does that is by offering a therapist directory to help you find the right therapist for you, whether that's a therapist that shares the same racial identity as you, that specializes in treating issues that you're dealing with, or that offers a variety of payment options, such as sliding scales or insurance coverage. And after using the site to find my new therapist, I'm happy to say that it helped me find a great therapist that met most of my needs—and this opinion held up in our most recent testing as well.

See at therapyforblackgirls.com

Related: The Most Inclusive Online Therapy Platforms of 2024

This Is How I Found My Therapist

When I went to the Therapy for Black Girls website, I clicked on “Find a Therapist” at the top of the homepage to find the directory. I then had to select whether I was looking for a therapist who could meet me in-office or virtually.

I preferred a therapist who offered both in-office and virtual appointments, but since that option wasn’t available, I chose virtual.

I then had to select my state (to ensure the therapist was licensed in my location) and I had to reaffirm that I was fine with a virtual appointment, which seemed odd since I’d already selected the virtual therapy option.

After that, I was able to start my search in full, using a variety of filters to narrow down my options.

There were a lot of filter options, including whether I wanted someone who accepted insurance. I could also narrow it down by:

• Specialty

• Location

• If group therapy was available

• Whether they were accepting new clients

• Whether they could prescribe medication

• If virtual therapy was offered

There was no shortage of specialty filters. Some included academic performance, anger management, anxiety, career concerns, depression, divorce, parenting, sleep, and substance use were just some of the options available. I decided stress was a good choice for me.

"I was disappointed to find that there was no filter for spirituality or for therapists who offered a free consultation. Both would have been helpful for me."

I decided to use my insurance, asked to have virtual therapy offered, and answered "yes" to "Accepting New Clients." I didn't need a provider near me since I was using virtual therapy and didn't need medication.

I did notice that while the company lists therapists that accept a variety of payment options (including sliding payment scales if cost is an issue for you), there was no filter to narrow down to therapists that offered these options. You had to visit the therapist’s page in the directory to find that information.

It wasn’t until I'd made all my selections and received a narrowed-down list to choose from that I could start looking at the services each therapist provided.

I saw there were psychologists, psychiatrists, and social workers to choose from. In total, I had a list of 60 providers to choose from who met my filter parameters. However, I disliked that there was no way to sort the results alphabetically.

While there was no filter to narrow down results to just therapists who were parents or married, some therapists' bios noted if they were.

Filter Issue

I found it odd that although I'd selected "accepting new clients" as a filter, some therapists stated they weren't accepting new patients on their bio pages.

I was pleased to find, however, that most of the therapist's options had a wide range of availability, including not only daytime appointments but also evenings.

However, by the time I was halfway through my filtered list, it became clear that I was unlikely to find a therapist that met all my needs. I'd have to compromise, so I decided I was OK with a therapist who wasn't married with kids. Spirituality was more important to me.

Contacting Therapists on The Directory

I felt like the directory was beneficial in helping me narrow down my choices. The next step was to move forward with contacting a therapist.

At the top of each therapist's profile are buttons inviting therapy seekers to "Visit My Website," "Call Now," or "Email Me," as well as an option to "Get Directions." I decided to contact two therapists options via email after reviewing my filtered list.

I sent an email because I liked the idea of being able to correspond directly with her. I know there are some directories that prefer all of the contact happen in their directory platform, but I was glad I could establish our contact outside of the directory, so I would have a record of it.

One therapist took over a week to respond to my email. The other, however, was fantastic—she responded within a couple of hours—and she also accepted my insurance. I just had to provide the details on my initial paperwork and her office would take care of filing for coverage. I also had to provide a credit card to keep on file so the practice could bill me for any copays or coinsurance after my insurance was charged.

Scheduling My First Session

I was fortunate that the therapist I selected mentioned she offered free initial consultations in her bio. We were able to schedule the initial consultation via email pretty quickly.

Intake Session

During that 15-minute call, she discussed her process and approach to therapy, which I liked. I also liked the fact that I would leave therapy sessions with steps I could take to help manage stress.

Based on that phone consultation, I decided I liked her and wanted to proceed with therapy sessions.

We talked about the time slots she had available in her schedule for upcoming sessions. Though the options were a little limited, we found a time that worked for both of us. I liked the fact that she slotted me for that same time every week. It ensured that I’d be able to get in and see her, plus have continuity of treatment.

With my provider, video and phone sessions were the available options, which worked perfectly for me (because I'd already filtered for providers who offered virtual sessions).

After each session, I was billed for the copay (which thanks to my insurance was under $30 but that would likely vary for other people), and I received a receipt.

What My First Session Was Like

I approached my first session with excitement. I felt like the Therapy for Black Girls directory helped me find the right therapist who would really be able to relate to my experiences. I soon learned that I was right.

Instead of needing to go through the directory platform, my therapist sent me a link via email to join my first official session. Again, I liked that direct contact. The session lasted for 45 minutes and went smoothly, with no technical difficulties.

Session Experience

Overall, I had an excellent experience with my provider. She was caring, compassionate, knowledgeable, and thorough.

I felt like she got to the point when she needed to, and also allowed my needs to dictate the direction of the conversation. She helped me identify some key sources of stress, and how my actions are contributing to the stress I was feeling. I was pleased to see that even though her bio didn't mention having children or taking care of a parent, she was well-equipped to relate to my issues and give me the insight I needed.

Our conversation had a certain fluidity because she understood some references I made as a woman of color. This is where this directory stands out. By connecting me with someone who I know understands my identity and how that affects my life (both in and outside the therapy office), I feel like Therapy for Black Girls makes good on its goal of destigmatizing therapy for women of color who may have had negative experiences with therapy in the past. Though I've had other wonderful therapists who weren't Black, I felt like this therapist could better relate to some of my experiences. I think that is a benefit of having a directory where I could find women who look like me.

At the end of our session, she gave me actionable steps. I loved that she incorporated the elements of faith, prayer, and positive words of affirmation that I could say to myself. Though we've only had two sessions, they've been incredibly beneficial.

This therapy experience was similar to other good experiences that I have had, both in person and online. I think it was so positive because the therapist I chose gave me the advice and tools I needed to handle stress in this season of life.

Our Most Recent Testing

We went back to Therapy for Black Girls in 2024, and our testing this time around provided equally as favorable results as our previous try with this directory.

For a smaller directory, we were pleased with how many options we were shown, even when we selected an insurance company that is not accepted everywhere (Kaiser). When searching for a provider who took our insurance, specialized in anxiety, and offered virtual sessions, we were presented with 17 choices; and even when we looked for an in-person therapist (a much harder service to find on online therapy directories), we got one result.

Takeaway

When we took away our insurance information and looked for providers for whom we would pay out-of-pocket, our choices immediately opened up. We got 122 matches for in-person services and a whopping 358 options for virtual therapy.

All of the bios we saw indicated whether or not the provider was accepting new patients, making it much easier to determine who to reach out to. We also appreciated that there were "Call now" and "Email" buttons placed prominently in each bio; however, these buttons lead to Skype and our email directly rather than a way to communicate through the directory, which we thought was a little strange.

Takeaway

The pricing for each provider was also a little unclear. While some bios listed which insurance plans they accepted, it seemed as though prices were generally not available unless the provider included them in their description of the services they provide.

But despite this oversight, we felt as though each therapist who came up in our search was appropriate for what we needed, and we were impressed to see "specialty" filters like "Race-Related Stress" and "Racial Identity," which are especially relevant for a therapy seeker looking for a culturally-informed therapist. We also appreciated that the search results themselves were easy to digest, featuring just a picture and the provider's licenses and qualifications; this helped make each therapist feel more human and relatable right off the bat.

Pros and Cons

I'm glad I decided to use the Therapy for Black Girls directory. It was not perfect, but it helped me find the therapy experience I was looking for.

Pros

• Convenient way to find a specific group of therapists
  

• Helpful filters to narrow down what you’re looking for
  

• Some therapists take insurance
  

• In-person and virtual options

• Therapists offer day and evening appointments

Cons

• Some helpful filters are missing
  

• No way to alphabetize therapist listings to help you organize search results
  

• The "accepting new clients" filter is not always accurate
  

• Response times depend on the therapist, not the directory

Final Thoughts

Based on my experience, I would recommend using this directory. It provides a pool of therapists who destigmatize therapy for women of color. It has helpful filters, including insurance and specialty, and a variety of professionals available.

However, an important filter for therapists taking new patients wasn't always accurate. I also expected all the therapists’ bios to be similar. But they don’t all list the same details, and some questions require going to the therapists’ website outside of the directory to find the answers.

User Survey Results

We surveyed 180 users of Therapy for Black Girls, and the results were similar to my experience: generally very positive.

• 91% of users rated the directory as good or very good

• 82% felt that the directory was easy or very easy to navigate

• 70% were able to find a provider who met all of their needs

• 64% of users are still using the therapist they found on Therapy for Black Girls

• 84% said that they were likely or very likely to recommend Therapy for Black Girls to a friend or someone like them
  

Overall, this directory gives the impression that it serves as a safe, welcoming hub for women of color to find a therapist who “gets" them. It absolutely delivers on that promise. While not perfect, there is a great way to filter results. I got exactly what I needed and love my new therapist!

See at therapyforblackgirls.com

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Read the original article on Verywell Mind.