Looking for a Therapist in Fort Collins? Here’s an Initial Guide to Help Find the Best Practitioner for You

Written by Dori Lewis, LPC, LMHC, Owner-Operator of Reflective Healing and Cofounder and Clinical Director of Elemental Psychedelics

Ever found yourself panicking on a random Tuesday, searching for trauma therapy in Colorado, life transitions therapy, or psilocybin therapy for depression? Or maybe you’ve recently gone through a heartwrenching breakup, the death of a loved one, or a mental health crisis, and are searching for a therapist. It doesn’t matter how you’ve got to this page, but you have. And the burning question on your mind is probably: “I just don’t know where to start or who to trust.” It’s hard to take the first step, and hand all your trust to Google to hunt down that therapist you urgently need.

And we get it, even when you’ve decided therapy is the right course of action…there are then so many traditional therapy offerings across Colorado, as well as ketamine therapy and psilocybin mushroom therapy. And it can feel really overwhelming. From IFS to EMDR to CBT, one of these tools may be a game-changer for you, but you haven’t discovered it yet.

As the owner of a mental health practice, I’ll attempt to demystify this process a little, ground you in your (possibly frantic) decision-making, explain some normal mistakes people make while looking, and how you can begin your search for a therapist in Fort Collins.

How Do I Start Looking for a Therapist in Fort Collins?

There’s not one single right place to start your search. But often the best way is to get referrals from friends or family, even if that just leads you towards a therapy collective or organization, rather than a particular therapist. 

Another way is to search online and read in-depth about the providers, and their background and training. You could even use one of the many therapist directories out there, like Psychology Today’s Therapy Directory, which lists psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, and therapists that offer mental health services to the public. You can customize your search depending on your specific challenges, therapy preferences, and more. If you have health insurance, it may be worth calling them too, to see if they have in-network mental health providers or directories that can help. 

We will dive into this further below, but before making any commitments, we recommend an initial consultation call, too. You personally need to feel out your therapist, and make sure you feel comfortable with them as a human.

How Much Does Therapy Cost?

The cost of therapy depends on a therapist’s experience, training, and other variables. On average, a therapy session in Fort Collins costs between $100 and $200. If you have insurance, the expense of mental health care can be lower, but it depends on your insurance details and whether you choose an out-of-network mental healthcare provider or not. 

At Reflective Healing, we offer out-of-pocket services and don’t work directly with insurance, but you can submit documentation for reimbursement for certain clinical services. We also use the Green Bottle Method to provide sliding scale pricing.

What To Consider When Choosing a Therapist (and How To Know They’re a Good Fit)

It can take time; it's not always a one-and-done situation. 

Similar to how you’d try on a bunch of shoes in a shop until you find the one that fits, the same applies to therapy. It really is a process you can’t rush. Most importantly, you need to get to know a therapist, either over the phone for an initial intro call or through three sessions, to determine if they are the right fit. 

More than anything, look for relational fit. 

Often, it is best to choose a therapist that you feel comfortable with just naturally, not because they say or do the “right” thing. You just feel at home with that person. So, after your first session, you can perhaps journal your thoughts: How does it feel being with them? Do you feel comfortable and safe? Do you feel you can be yourself? Do you feel a sense of camaraderie, a sense of ease in your system? Does this person understand your language, humor, or sarcasm? I once had an experience where I made a little joke with my therapist, and they didn't pick up on it, they didn’t laugh, and…shock, I didn't want to work with that person. It's like going on a first date and feeling like you can't wait to leave. I feel it's a good sign if you're like: "I can't wait to come back next week.” Some clients may also wish to see a provider who shares their gender, race, cultural background, or sexual orientation. However, after meeting specific providers, they may find that these factors matter less than a natural sense of rapport. 

In-person vs online sessions. 

This is just a matter of preference. If you're someone who doesn't leave your house a lot or you are seeking specialized support, it may be recommended to meet with an in-person therapist. If you travel a lot, have mobility issues, or live more remotely, perhaps virtual sessions would work best. I've done both, and I have found them both to be helpful. There are very subtle aspects that may assist therapists during an in-person session, though, like nonverbal cues and body language.

One of our therapy rooms at Reflective Healing Center

It’s ok to feel challenged in therapy. 

Having a sense of trust and unconditional positive regard from your therapist helps when they offer insights and feedback that challenges you. It’s not always skillful for a therapist to challenge a client too early on in the therapeutic relationship before a foundation is built, so be mindful of how and when this shows up. Over time, as you build trust and mutual respect, your therapist may challenge you more. Not so much that it's uncomfortable to your system and you start to hate therapy, but just enough to push you outside of your comfort zone. If you're always putting on a front or pretending to be the best version of yourself, because you want your therapist to see you in a certain way, you'll never reveal the material that makes therapy worthwhile. The shadow material, the parts of yourself that you're ashamed of.

What Mistakes Do People Make When Choosing a Therapist?

Many people base a decision solely on a therapist’s credentials. 

This is, of course, a really important aspect, and you can verify a Colorado Professional License through the Department of Regulatory Agencies. However, people often just quickly read the credentials or certifications and think they must be good. They might be helpful for certain people, but they might not be a good fit for you. You need to feel listened to and respected for therapy to succeed, so personal connection, trust, and empathy can be more important than a list of credentials. 

Many don’t consider whether a provider’s training and expertise align with the reasons they are seeking treatment. 

For example, if you’re looking to work on relationship issues within your marriage, you’d do well to seek out someone who has been trained in a couples therapy modality, like being Gottman or PACT trained. Or if you’re looking to work on trauma, you might want to search for an EMDR or specialty training in trauma. You also want to check what methodologies a therapist uses, like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Internal Family Systems (IFS), Ketamine-Assisted, Psychodynamic, and more. 

After starting with a therapist, some clients feel they have to stay. 

“I find looking so tiresome and time-consuming, so I'm just going to stick with the therapist I found” – that’s how many clients feel. And it’s problematic because you might not really feel your therapist is the right fit, and it may be best to keep searching, even though it's difficult. If you decide to move on, that doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with them or you.

Many people only turn to therapists when in crisis.

But that can make it very difficult to be discerning about who you want to work with. Finding a therapist when you're in a better place means you have ongoing support and a relationship that you can lean on when tricky situations arise. 

How To Know What You Need From Our Fort Collins Therapy Toolkit? 

At Reflective Healing, our “therapy toolkit” includes Transpersonal Therapy, EMDR Therapy, Psychedelic Integration Therapy, Mindfulness, Attachment-focused Therapy, Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP), Psilocybin Assisted Therapy (PAT), Relationship Counseling, Grief Counseling, Life Transition Therapy, and more. And your familiarity with the toolkit, and your awareness of what feels most needed, will expand as time goes on in the therapeutic relationship. 

Knowing what to trial at the beginning depends on your primary desire and why you are seeking therapy in the first place. If you’re somebody who's been through a car accident in the last year, you might want to work with somebody who does EMDR to help process traumatic events. If you've lost a loved one and are dealing with grief, you may want a therapist who has deep knowledge of grief work or life transitions. If you’ve had a spiritual experience with a psychedelic, you may be called to work with somebody who has knowledge about transpersonal work, who could explore the mystical and existential questions. If you’ve been struggling with treatment-resistant depression, ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP) may be a valuable route. 

We offer many different therapy and counseling services in our practice in Fort Collins, Colorado. We combine a range of methods that draw on clinical psychotherapy and holistic healing modalities. And rather than treating symptoms in isolation, we work with the full spectrum of your lived experience. Our team of licensed therapists is here to support you on your journey.

Schedule your consultation today and visit our website to learn more! 

Frequently Asked Questions: Finding a Therapist in Fort Collins

How do I find a therapist in Fort Collins, CO?

It’s great if you can get referrals from friends or family. But you can also find therapists through local private practices, online directories, or community mental health services. You can filter by specialty (anxiety, trauma, CBT, etc) and insurance when searching in directories. 

What types of therapy are available in Fort Collins?

Fort Collins offers a wide range of therapy approaches, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Internal Family Systems (IFS), psychodynamic therapy, family and couples therapy, Life Transition Therapy, and trauma-focused approaches like EMDR therapy (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing). There has also been growing interest in psychedelic-assisted approaches, including ketamine therapy and psilocybin mushroom therapy.

Are there therapists in Fort Collins who specialize in trauma therapy?

Yes. Many therapists in Fort Collins specialize in trauma, PTSD treatment, and, increasingly, ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP). Common approaches include EMDR, Internal Family Systems (IFS), and psilocybin-assisted therapy (PAT). There are also providers who focus specifically on complex trauma, childhood trauma, and PTSD recovery.