How Do I Find the Right Therapist for Me? A Guide to Choosing Your Counselor in Denver
The decision to seek counseling often comes after months or even years of struggling alone. By the time you're ready to reach out, you've likely exhausted other options—advice from friends, self-help books, trying to think your way through, or simply hoping things would improve on their own. Finally acknowledging you could use therapy takes courage.
And then you face an overwhelming question: how do you actually find the right therapist?
The search itself can feel daunting. Scroll through Psychology Today, and you'll find hundreds of therapist profiles in Denver, each listing multiple specialties, various credentials, and therapeutic approaches you may have never heard of. How do you distinguish between them? What actually matters? And how can you tell from a website whether someone will genuinely be able to help you?
The truth is that finding the right therapist is part practical research and part intuitive sensing. There are concrete factors to consider—credentials, specializations, logistics—but ultimately, the therapeutic relationship is what determines whether therapy will help. You need someone skilled, yes, but you also need someone with whom you can be genuine, someone who sees you clearly, and someone whose presence feels both safe and challenging enough to support real growth.
What Actually Matters When Choosing a Therapist (And What *Arguably* Doesn't)
When searching for a therapist in Denver, it's easy to get caught up in factors that seem important but may not actually predict whether therapy will work for you. Let's distinguish what genuinely matters from what matters less than you might think.
Mental Health Credentials Matter, But Not in the Way You'd Expect
You'll see various letters after therapists' names: LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker), LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor), PsyD (Doctor of Psychology), PhD (Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology), LMFT (Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist). These indicate different educational paths and licensing, but they don't necessarily predict effectiveness or fit.
What matters more than the specific credential is that your therapist is licensed and in good standing, which ensures they've met educational and supervised clinical experience requirements and adhere to ethical standards. Beyond that, focus on their specialized training and experience in areas relevant to your needs rather than the letters themselves.
For example, an LCSW with extensive trauma training and years of experience treating complex PTSD may be far more qualified to help with trauma than a psychologist without that specialization. Similarly, a licensed professional counselor trained in EMDR and psychodynamic therapy may offer exactly what you need, regardless of whether they have a doctoral degree.
Years of Counseling Experience Tell You Something, But Not Everything
A therapist who's practiced for twenty years has undoubtedly developed skill and wisdom. But a newer therapist who's deeply committed to their work, engaged in ongoing consultation, and well-trained can also provide excellent care. What matters is not just how long someone has practiced but how thoughtfully they've engaged with their development as a therapist.
During a consultation, you might ask about their experience with issues similar to yours, their approach to ongoing learning, and whether they receive consultation or supervision. These questions reveal more than years in practice alone.
Specialization in Your Specific Mental Health Issue Helps, But Human Connection Matters More
If you're dealing with trauma, finding a trauma therapist in Denver makes sense. If you're navigating relationship difficulties, someone experienced in couples or relational work is valuable. Specialization matters, particularly for complex or specific issues.
However, the single best predictor of successful therapy isn't the therapist's theoretical orientation or specialization—it's the quality of the therapeutic relationship. Research consistently shows that the therapeutic alliance accounts for more of therapy's effectiveness than specific techniques or approaches. You could find the most renowned trauma specialist in Denver, but if you don't feel safe or understood with them, the work will be limited.
This means you need both: someone with relevant expertise and someone with whom you can develop genuine connection and trust.
Do You Already Know Which Therapy Modality You Want to Try? Approach Matters If You Have Preferences
Some people come to therapy knowing they want a specific approach—perhaps you've researched EMDR for trauma, or you're specifically seeking psychodynamic therapy for deeper exploration. If you have these preferences, honor them. They likely reflect something about what you sense you need.
Others have no idea what CBT versus DBT versus psychodynamic therapy means, and that's completely fine. During consultations, ask therapists to explain their approach in plain language and why they think it might help with your particular struggles. A good therapist can articulate their methodology without jargon and help you understand whether it aligns with what you're seeking.
What Genuinely Matters When Choosing the Right Counselor for You
Beyond credentials and approaches, here's what research and clinical wisdom suggest actually matters:
You feel heard and understood. Even in a brief consultation, you should sense that the therapist genuinely listens and tries to understand your experience.
You feel respected as a person, not just a diagnosis. Your therapist should treat you as a whole human being with complexity, not reduce you to symptoms or labels.
There's enough safety to be vulnerable, and enough challenge to grow. You need a therapist who feels safe but who also won't let you stay stuck in patterns that don't serve you.
Their values and approach align with yours. If you value collaboration, you need a therapist who works that way, not someone authoritative. If you're drawn to spiritual or existential exploration, a therapist comfortable with that matters.
They acknowledge limitations and work within their scope. A good therapist knows what they can help with and what's outside their expertise. They should be willing to refer you elsewhere if needed.
You sense they genuinely care about this work. There's a difference between someone going through the motions and someone deeply committed to accompanying people through difficult territory.
Understanding Different Therapy Types: Finding Your Match for Counseling
The alphabet soup of therapy approaches can be confusing. Here's a practical guide to understanding different types and sensing which might fit your needs.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Structured, Present-Focused, Skill-Building
CBT focuses on how thoughts, feelings, and behaviors interact. It's typically structured, often includes homework, and targets specific symptoms or problems. If you're looking for practical tools, concrete strategies, or time-limited therapy for issues like panic attacks, specific phobias, or insomnia, CBT might fit well.
CBT works less well if you're seeking deeper exploration of relational patterns, processing complex trauma, or understanding how your past shapes your present. It's an effective approach for what it does, but it's not designed for depth-oriented psychological exploration.
EMDR Therapy: Trauma-Focused, Memory Processing
EMDR specifically targets traumatic memories that remain unprocessed in your nervous system. It uses bilateral stimulation (typically eye movements) to help your brain complete the processing that trauma interrupted. If you're dealing with specific traumatic events—assault, accidents, losses—or with PTSD symptoms, EMDR therapy in Denver can be remarkably effective and often works more quickly than talk therapy alone.
EMDR requires you to have enough stability and coping resources to tolerate the emotional intensity that can arise when processing trauma. A skilled EMDR therapist will assess whether you're ready and help you develop resources first if needed.
Psychodynamic Therapy: Depth-Oriented, Pattern-Focused, Relational
Psychodynamic therapy explores unconscious patterns, how your past informs your present, and what happens in the therapeutic relationship itself. It's less structured and more exploratory than CBT. If you're drawn to understanding yourself deeply, working with longstanding patterns, or exploring how early relationships affect you now, psychodynamic approaches might resonate.
This approach requires willingness to engage in longer-term work and comfort with ambiguity and exploration rather than clear-cut solutions. It's particularly valuable for complex issues, personality patterns, and relational difficulties.
Internal Family Systems (IFS): Parts-Based, Compassionate, Integrative
IFS understands your psyche as made up of different parts, each with its own perspective and protective function. It's a compassionate framework for working with internal conflicts—the part that wants connection and the part that fears it, the part that drives you toward achievement and the part that just wants rest. If you relate to feeling conflicted or fragmented, IFS-informed therapy offers a gentle, empowering approach.
Somatic Therapy: Body-Centered, Trauma-Informed
Somatic approaches recognize that trauma and emotion live in your body, not just in thoughts and memories. These therapies work with sensation, movement, and nervous system regulation. If you feel disconnected from your body, struggle with chronic tension or pain that seems emotionally linked, or find talk therapy insufficient, somatic work might be valuable.
Integrative Therapy: Drawing From Multiple Approaches
Many therapists, including Erin at Integration Psychotherapy LLC, practice integratively—drawing from multiple approaches based on what each client needs. This flexibility means you might receive EMDR for specific trauma memories, psychodynamic exploration of patterns, and somatic techniques for regulation, all within one therapeutic relationship.
Integrative therapy works well if you appreciate flexibility and collaboration, though it requires a therapist skilled enough to move fluidly between approaches rather than simply being unfocused.
Red Flags in Counselors: When to Keep Looking
Not every licensed therapist is right for every person, and some signs suggest a therapist may not be a good fit—or may not be practicing ethically or skillfully.
Trust Your Gut About Boundary Violations
Clear, consistent boundaries are essential for safe therapy. Red flags include: a therapist sharing extensive personal problems with you, asking you to meet outside the office socially, making comments about your appearance that feel uncomfortable, or any behavior that feels romantically or sexually inappropriate. These are serious ethical violations. Trust your discomfort and find someone else.
Notice If You Feel Judged or Shamed
You should feel challenged sometimes in therapy—good therapists don't just comfort you or agree with everything. But you should never feel judged, shamed, or diminished. If your therapist seems moralistic, critical of your choices in ways that feel punishing rather than curious, or makes you feel fundamentally flawed, this isn't therapeutic. You deserve a therapist who meets you with compassion even when exploring difficult truths.
Watch for Rigidity or One-Size-Fits-All Thinking
Some therapists become overly attached to one approach or way of understanding things, applying the same lens to every client. If a therapist seems unable to adjust their approach to your needs, insists you must do things their way, or dismisses your feedback about what's helpful, consider whether this rigidity will serve your growth.
Pay Attention If They're Consistently Late or Distracted
Occasional disruptions happen, but if your therapist is regularly late, takes phone calls during sessions, seems distracted, or frequently cancels, this suggests they're not able to provide the presence and consistency therapy requires. You deserve better.
Notice If There's No Space for Your Experience
In some initial sessions, therapists might do more of the talking—gathering history, explaining their approach, asking questions. But if this pattern continues, where the therapist lectures or fills all the space without room for your experience, something is off. Therapy should be about you, not about the therapist demonstrating their knowledge.
Consider Whether They Take Responsibility
Misunderstandings and ruptures happen in therapy. What matters is whether your therapist can acknowledge their part, apologize if appropriate, and work through the difficulty with you. If a therapist becomes defensive, blames you, or can't tolerate feedback, this pattern will limit the work's depth.
Therapist Green Flags: Signs You've Found a Good Fit
Just as important as recognizing red flags is noticing signs that suggest a therapist might be right for you.
You Feel Genuinely Heard
Even in a brief consultation, you sense the therapist is really listening—not just waiting for their turn to talk, not mentally diagnosing you, but actually trying to understand your experience. This quality of attention is foundational.
They Explain Things Clearly Without Jargon
A skilled therapist can describe their approach, what they notice about your situation, and how they might help in language that makes sense to you. If they're hiding behind technical terminology or can't articulate their thinking accessibly, question whether they truly understand their own work.
They're Honest About What They Can and Can't Help With
Therapists who acknowledge the limits of their expertise and refer out when appropriate demonstrate integrity. Be wary of therapists who claim to treat everything—trauma, addiction, eating disorders, severe mental illness, relationship issues, career concerns. Specialization and honesty about scope of practice matter.
You Feel Both Safe and Appropriately Challenged
This balance is crucial. Too much safety without challenge leads to therapy that's supportive but doesn't create change. Too much challenge without safety feels threatening and activates defenses. The right therapist helps you feel secure enough to explore difficult territory.
They Welcome Your Questions and Feedback
Good therapists aren't threatened by questions about their approach, credentials, or how therapy is going. They invite this dialogue and see it as part of the work rather than as challenges to their authority.
They Demonstrate Cultural Awareness and Humility
If you hold marginalized identities, you need a therapist who demonstrates awareness of how systems of oppression, cultural context, and identity affect mental health and the therapeutic relationship. They should be willing to acknowledge what they don't know and commit to understanding your experience rather than making assumptions.
Their Online Presence Feels Authentic
When you read their website or Psychology Today profile, does it sound like a real person or like generic therapy-speak? Authenticity in how therapists present themselves often reflects authenticity in how they practice.
Something Intangible Feels Right
Beyond all practical considerations, there's often an intuitive sense of fit. You might not be able to articulate why, but something about this person feels right. Trust that intuition while also evaluating practical factors.
The Practical Search: Where and How to Find a Therapist in Denver for In-Person or Online Telehealth Therapy
Once you understand what you're looking for, where do you actually find therapist options in Denver?
Online Directories
Psychology Today's therapist directory is the most commonly used resource. You can filter by location, issues, insurance, therapy type, and other factors. Therapist Match and Good Therapy are similar directories. These are good starting points for generating a list of possibilities.
When browsing profiles, look beyond the list of specialties (many therapists check numerous boxes) and read their personal statements. Do they write in a way that resonates with you? Can you sense their personality and values?
Insurance Provider Directories
If you're hoping to use insurance, your insurance company's provider directory shows in-network therapists. Be aware that these directories are often out of date—many listed therapists may not actually be accepting new clients or may no longer accept that insurance. You'll need to call to verify.
Also know that many experienced therapists, particularly those practicing psychodynamic or EMDR therapy, don't accept insurance. They operate on a private-pay basis, though some provide superbills for out-of-network reimbursement. This is worth considering if you find someone who seems like an excellent fit.
Referrals From People You Trust
If you have friends who've had positive therapy experiences, asking for referrals can be valuable. Personal recommendations carry weight. However, recognize that the right therapist for someone else may not be right for you, so still do your own vetting.
Medical or Other Healthcare Providers
Primary care doctors, psychiatrists, or other healthcare providers often have referral lists. These recommendations can be helpful, though they may reflect referral relationships more than deep knowledge of each therapist's work.
Specialty Practice Websites
If you're looking for specific approaches—trauma therapy, EMDR, psychodynamic work—searching directly for practices specializing in those areas can be more efficient than browsing general directories. For example, searching "trauma therapist Denver" or "EMDR therapy Denver" will surface practices with those specializations.
Initial Contact: The Consultation Call
Most therapists offer a brief free consultation, typically 15-30 minutes by phone. This is your opportunity to assess fit before committing to a first session. Don't skip this step—it's valuable for both you and the therapist to determine whether working together makes sense.
Questions to Ask During Your Counseling Consultation
Come to the consultation with questions. This isn't about interrogating the therapist, but about gathering information to make an informed decision. Here are valuable questions to consider:
About Their Approach and Experience
What's your therapeutic approach, and how do you think it might help with what I'm dealing with?
What's your experience working with [your specific issue]?
How do you typically structure sessions?
What does the process of therapy with you usually look like?
About Practical Matters
What's your fee, and do you accept my insurance?
If you don't accept insurance, do you provide superbills for reimbursement?
How long are sessions, and how frequently would we meet?
What's your cancellation policy?
How do you handle communication between sessions if something urgent comes up?
About Fit and Philosophy
How would you describe your style as a therapist?
How do you approach [something important to you—maybe collaboration, or addressing your specific identity, or integrating spiritual perspective]?
What's your training in [specific modality you're interested in, like EMDR or psychodynamic therapy]?
About Logistics and Commitment
Are you accepting new clients right now, and what's your availability?
Do you have a sense of how long treatment typically takes for issues like mine?
How will we know if therapy is working, and how do we evaluate progress?
Trust Your Experience of the Conversation
Beyond the content of their answers, notice how the conversation feels. Does the therapist listen well? Do their answers make sense and feel genuine? Do you feel comfortable, or do you feel judged or misunderstood? Your felt sense of this conversation is data.
Trauma-Informed Counselors and Special Considerations
Certain factors might make finding the right therapist more complex, requiring additional considerations.
If You've Experienced Trauma
Finding a trauma-informed therapist is essential. This means someone who understands how trauma affects the nervous system, who won't push you to process memories before you're ready, and who can help you develop resources and stability. Ask specifically about their trauma training—workshops aren't sufficient for complex trauma work. Look for extensive training in approaches like EMDR, somatic work, or trauma-focused psychodynamic therapy.
If You Hold Marginalized Identities
Finding a therapist who understands the impact of racism, heterosexism, transphobia, ableism, or other forms of oppression on mental health matters enormously. You shouldn't have to educate your therapist about your identity or defend your experience. Some people prioritize finding a therapist who shares their identity; others prioritize demonstrated cultural competence and humility regardless of the therapist's identity. Only you can determine what feels necessary for your safety and healing.
If You're Dealing With Relationship Issues
If the primary issue is relationship difficulties, consider whether individual therapy, couples therapy, or both makes sense. Some individual therapists are also trained in couples work; others focus on one or the other. If you're seeking couples therapy, both partners need to feel reasonably comfortable with the therapist, which adds complexity to finding the right fit.
If You Need Specific Schedule Flexibility
If you can only meet at certain times—early mornings, evenings, weekends—finding a therapist with that availability might limit your options. In Denver's competitive therapy market, many experienced therapists have waitlists or limited availability. You may need to balance the ideal therapist with practical accessibility.
If You Prefer Teletherapy or In-Person Sessions
The shift to teletherapy during the pandemic expanded access, and many therapists now offer virtual sessions. Some people find video therapy works well; others strongly prefer in-person connection. Know your preference and ask about the therapist's current practice structure.
When the First Therapist You Chose Didn’t Work Out
You've done the research, had consultations, chosen a therapist, started sessions—and it's not feeling right. What now?
First, recognize that this is common and okay. Finding the right therapeutic fit can take time. It's not failure to acknowledge that someone isn't right for you.
Second, consider whether what you're feeling is discomfort that's part of therapy's work or genuine misfit. Therapy should feel uncomfortable sometimes—you're exploring painful territory, confronting patterns you'd rather avoid, sitting with difficult emotions. That discomfort is often a sign the work is happening.
However, if you feel consistently judged, unheard, unsafe, or like the therapist genuinely doesn't understand you, that's different from productive discomfort. Trust yourself to know the difference.
Third, consider bringing it up with your therapist. "I'm noticing I'm not sure this is the right fit" or "I'm feeling like something isn't working" opens a conversation. A skilled therapist will explore this with you without defensiveness. Sometimes, addressing a rupture or misunderstanding actually deepens the work. Other times, the conversation clarifies that you'd be better served elsewhere, and the therapist might have referral suggestions.
Finally, don't stay with a therapist out of obligation or guilt. You deserve to work with someone who can genuinely help you. If it's not the right fit, it's appropriate to end and continue your search.
Trusting Yourself in the Counselor Match Process
Perhaps the most important guidance about finding the right therapist is this: trust yourself. You have an innate capacity to sense what feels safe and what doesn't, who sees you clearly and who doesn't, what resonates and what feels off.
The search for a therapist can activate insecurities. You might wonder if you're being too picky, if you're avoiding therapy by rejecting options, if your hesitation reflects resistance to the work rather than genuine concerns about fit. These are fair questions to hold lightly while still honoring your gut sense.
Finding the right therapist is important enough to warrant care in the search. This is someone with whom you'll be vulnerable, someone who will witness your pain and your growth, someone who will help shape how you understand yourself. That relationship deserves attention in the choosing.
At the same time, don't let the search for the perfect therapist become a way of avoiding starting therapy. "Good enough" often is good enough—you need someone skilled and attuned, not perfect. The work itself is what matters most.
Making the Decision and Starting Therapy
Eventually, the research and consultations lead to a decision. You choose someone who seems like they might be able to help, who feels safe enough, whose approach makes sense for what you need. And then you begin.
Those first sessions can feel awkward or exposing. You're learning how to be in this relationship, how much to share, how vulnerable to be. Your therapist is getting to know you, understanding your patterns, beginning to sense how to work with you effectively. Give it time.
Most therapists suggest at least 3-5 sessions before evaluating whether it's working, unless something feels clearly wrong earlier. This allows enough time for the initial awkwardness to settle and for the actual work to begin emerging.
If after several sessions it genuinely doesn't feel right, you can revisit the question. But often, the discomfort of beginning therapy isn't about the wrong therapist—it's about the vulnerability inherent in the process itself.
How it Feels When You Find the Right Counselor
You'll know you've found the right therapist not necessarily because everything feels comfortable, but because something essential feels right. You sense you can be real with this person. You feel seen in ways that matter. You notice that even when sessions are difficult, you leave with something—whether that's new understanding, a sense of being held in your pain, or simple relief at not carrying everything alone.
The right therapeutic relationship doesn't solve your problems for you, but it provides a space where you can do the work of understanding and healing yourself. Over time, this relationship becomes internalized—you begin to offer yourself the same kind compassion and curiosity your therapist offers you. This is how therapy creates lasting change.
About Integration Psychotherapy LLC | Erin McMahon, LSCW
Integration Psychotherapy LLC, founded by Erin McMahon, LCSW, provides trauma-informed psychodynamic therapy for adults in Denver who are seeking depth-oriented, relationally-focused therapeutic work. The practice specializes in helping clients understand how past experiences shape present struggles while providing a collaborative, authentic relationship that supports genuine healing.
A Practice Built on Relational Foundations
Finding the right therapist begins with understanding what kind of therapeutic relationship will serve your healing. At Integration Psychotherapy LLC, the relationship itself is understood as central to change, not simply as a pleasant backdrop for techniques. Erin McMahon brings a warm, grounded, and authentic presence to the work—showing up as a real person within appropriate professional boundaries rather than maintaining clinical distance.
This relational approach means therapy is collaborative. You are respected as the expert on your own experience, while the therapist provides skill, training, and attunement to support your exploration. Together, you determine what to focus on, what pace feels manageable, and what interventions might support your healing journey.
Integrative Approach: Psychodynamic Depth with Trauma-Focused Interventions
The therapeutic approach at Integration Psychotherapy LLC is grounded in psychodynamic understanding—attention to unconscious patterns, exploration of how past relationships inform present experience, curiosity about what happens in the therapeutic relationship itself. This depth-oriented foundation allows for fundamental change rather than only symptom management.
Within this psychodynamic framework, the practice integrates evidence-based interventions for trauma including EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), Internal Family Systems (IFS), somatic techniques, and attachment-focused work. This integration means you don't have to choose between depth exploration and practical trauma treatment—both are possible within one therapeutic relationship.
Who the Practice Serves
Integration Psychotherapy LLC works with adults navigating trauma and its aftermath—whether processing specific traumatic events, working through complex developmental trauma, or addressing how early relational experiences continue to affect current life. The practice also serves those struggling with anxiety, depression, relationship patterns, and the search for deeper meaning, particularly when these difficulties seem rooted in past experiences or relational wounds.
The practice welcomes clients from all backgrounds and identities, with awareness of how systems of oppression and cultural context affect mental health and the therapeutic relationship. Erin McMahon approaches this work with cultural humility and commitment to understanding each person's unique experience.
The Consultation Process
We offer a free consultation for potential new clients. This conversation provides an opportunity to share what brings you to therapy, ask questions about the approach, discuss practical matters like fees and scheduling, and get a sense of whether the therapeutic relationship feels like a good fit.
This consultation is not just information gathering—it's the beginning of assessing fit. How you feel in that conversation matters. Do you feel heard? Does the approach resonate? Can you imagine being vulnerable with this person? These questions are as important as credentials and specializations.
Practical Information
Our practice serves adults in the Denver area, offering both in-person and teletherapy sessions. Sessions are typically 50-55 minutes, scheduled weekly, though frequency can be adjusted based on need. We operate on a private-pay basis and can provide superbills for out-of-network insurance reimbursement.
Integration Psychotherapy was founded by Erin McMahon, Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with specialized training in trauma treatment, EMDR, psychodynamic therapy, and attachment-focused work. Ongoing consultation and professional development ensure the practice provides skilled, ethical, and current care.
Taking the Next Step
If the approach at Integration Psychotherapy LLC resonates with what you're seeking, reaching out for a consultation is the next step. This requires courage, being willing to be vulnerable with someone new, trusting that healing is possible. That courage deserves to be met with skill, compassion, and genuine commitment to your healing.
The search for the right therapist is important, and it's worth taking time to find someone who feels like a genuine fit. At the same time, at some point the search needs to transition to beginning. If Integration Psychotherapy LLC seems like it might be right for you, trust that sense enough to have a conversation.
Finding the right therapist can feel overwhelming, but it's a search worth undertaking. The right therapeutic relationship offers something profound: a space where you can be fully yourself, where your struggles are met with understanding rather than judgment, and where genuine healing becomes possible.
In the spirit of transparency and authenticity, this blog post was constructed with AI assistance for informational, educational, and marketing purposes. Erin does not use AI in her sessions or in her note-taking of sessions.
