# Where can I find a good therapist? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 18, 2009, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-find-a-good-therapist/506818 "2009-08-18T04:35:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![panaccione](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/94ad74/32.png) [@panaccione](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panaccione)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2009, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-find-a-good-therapist/506818/1 "2009-08-18T04:35:59Z")
or something to the equivalent? I’m a young guy with some emotional problems and I think I could benefit a lot from a therapist. My problem is I don’t think I have the money for it. Anyone know where I can get it for free? Hopefully, something in person, but a good online site I think could work. I’m from the Pittsburgh area if thats any help. ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2009, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-find-a-good-therapist/506818/2 "2009-08-18T06:59:26Z")
I think you might get more of a response if you checked out a local message board for people in the mental health field. Otherwise, try Allegheny County Health Services: 412-350-4456; TTY/TDD 412-350-3467 Warmline 1-866-661-WARM (9276) Therapy is probably not something you should seek out for the first time on-line. ---
**Author:** ![Fetchund](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b2d939/32.png) [@Fetchund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fetchund)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2009, 11:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-find-a-good-therapist/506818/3 "2009-08-18T11:17:52Z")
If you are working, or are under somebody else’s work insurance, check to see if you have an Employee Assistance Program. Often, you can get therapy for a small co-pay. ---
**Author:** ![BurnMeUp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@BurnMeUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BurnMeUp)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2009, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-find-a-good-therapist/506818/4 "2009-08-18T16:21:09Z")
Also, you might see if your city has an entry on Angie’s List. People use that sort of like Craig’s List to rate different professionals in major cities. Although I do believe there is a fee to join. ---
**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2009, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-find-a-good-therapist/506818/5 "2009-08-18T19:24:51Z")
Try contacting [Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic](http://www.upmc.com/HospitalsFacilities/Hospitals/wpic/Pages/default.aspx), which is part of UPMC. They offer [financial assistance for residents of western PA](http://www.upmc.com/aboutupmc/CommunityCitizenship/financialassistance/Pages/home.aspx) if you have something they can help with but have trouble paying. ETA: They’re not just a hospital, they do outpatient treatment as well. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2009, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-find-a-good-therapist/506818/6 "2009-08-19T04:21:16Z")
I think this is better suited for IMHO than GQ. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2009, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-find-a-good-therapist/506818/7 "2009-08-19T05:49:17Z")
County Health Boards are great for mental health, this is because the often employ new grads straight out of school. These counselors haven’t had time to become jaded with life and their profession and want to “make a mark,” so they really help or feel like they are trying to. County boards have sliding fee and they can help with meds on a sliding fee too. Generally, you go in for an appointment, and they make you fill out financial forms then take a written test and then ask you to explain your problem. Then they compare your written test to what you think is wrong and on that basis assign a therapist. Don’t think county boards don’t give decent help. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2009, 10:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-find-a-good-therapist/506818/8 "2009-08-19T10:52:14Z")
The County Health boards are sometimes listed under \ Mental Health/Mental Retardation. I was able to get some help there when we were really, really broke. Not just therapy, but I got subsidized prescriptions too. This probably saved my life. ---
**Author:** ![Lakai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de0a6/32.png) [@Lakai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lakai)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2009, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-find-a-good-therapist/506818/9 "2009-08-19T23:08:48Z")
If you have some insurance, then try asking a family doctor. He or she should have good experience in recommending specialists. ---
**Author:** ![panaccione](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/94ad74/32.png) [@panaccione](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panaccione)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2009, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-find-a-good-therapist/506818/10 "2009-08-20T00:37:38Z")
Thanks for all the responses, but does anyone know where I can get it completely free? Even if its onlne? ---
**Author:** ![saramamalana](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/74df32/32.png) [@saramamalana](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saramamalana)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2009, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-find-a-good-therapist/506818/11 "2009-08-20T11:55:29Z")
I don’t think you’ll find completely free, to be honest, unless you have Medicaid. If you use an agency or clinic (as opposed to someone in private practice), they’ll often have a sliding-scale fee option which is based on your income, whatever the source. At the outpatient clinic I worked in, the lowest fee possible on the scale was $5 for individual therapy, and $3 for group therapy.