How to Find a Latina Therapist in NJ
How to Find a Latina Therapist in New Jersey
How many of us struggle to consider, let alone actually Google, "how do I find a therapist?"
How many of us have taken the time to really think about what we're looking for when searching for a therapist?
How many of us then wonder, will I even be able to find someone who meets what I'm looking for? Whether that's someone who looks like me, someone who also speaks Spanish, or someone who just gets it.
I am here to tell you that the therapist you are searching for exists!I started Sol y Soul Therapy because I knew this gap existed. My name is Melanie Carrión. I'm a bilingual Latina therapist licensed in New Jersey & I offer virtual therapy in English & Spanish to first-generation & BIPOC adults who are done explaining themselves just to feel understood.
Some of you may find this page & feel seen (ojalá 🥲). Some of you may not & that's okay too. If you're Latine & in search of a Latine therapist, I'm here to help.
What to Look For
Before you start searching, it helps to get clear on what actually matters to you. Here are a few questions to ask yourself:
Does it matter to you if your therapist can jeje & also haha? If so, look for someone who is bilingual. Being able to move between English & Spanish in a session without having to explain yourself can make a real difference in how comfortable you feel.
Are you hoping to work on something specific, like trauma or anxiety? Maybe you've heard about EMDR & want to try it. Whatever it is, look for a therapist who lists those areas under their specialties. A therapist who focuses on what you're dealing with will be better equipped to actually help.
Do you want to go into an office, or would you rather have a session from home? This will help you decide whether you need someone who offers in-person, virtual, or both. Virtual therapy in particular has made it much easier to find the right therapist rather than just the closest one.
Where to Search
Latinx Therapy — one of my favorites. You can filter by insurance, specialty & whether the therapist is bilingual. It's built specifically for our community.
Psychology Today — a large directory with solid filters. You can search by location, insurance, virtual availability & more. It takes a little more digging, but it's worth it.
Therapy for Latinx — another great directory focused specifically on the Latinx community.
What to Expect After You Reach Out
Every therapist does this a little differently pero typically someone will get back to you after you inquire. When I receive an inquiry, I email the person & ask for their availability to schedule a free 15-minute phone consultation. During that call, I try to get a better sense of what they're looking for, what they're working through & whether I'd be a good fit to help.
After that, I ask for insurance information & send a welcome email through Headway, aka the platform I use for billing. Headway will also let you know what your copay is before your first appointment so there are no surprises.
A Note Before You Go
I truly believe therapy is not going to be beneficial if you don't connect with your therapist especially if you feel they don't understand you. As a Latina therapist myself, I know I am not going to be the right fit for every Latine person in New Jersey & that's okay. There are many wonderful Latino therapists throughout NJ & what matters most is that you find someone who can really see you for who you are.
I hope this helps you get one step closer to that.
& if you think that person might be me, I'd love to connect. You can book a free 15-minute consultation right here.
