Why Choosing the Right Psychotherapist Matters
Seeking out therapy is a very hard and vulnerable step to take for anyone. Throughout your entire life, you have found yourself in similar situations. You may have memories of being a child who struggled to focus in class during reading time, daydreaming, only to be alerted by the teacher's voice. Then you remember when you were a teenager in school, one who was so confident and exceptional in your intelligence, until your family moved. The new school you attended left you feeling stupid and unworthy. Then fast-forward to your job after college, and you’re feeling imposter syndrome like everyone is going to find out you're struggling to stay afloat and meet deadlines. When something persists this long in our lives, it's hard to ask for help, or even notice we need it.
Approaching these sensitive memories and feelings can be daunting; that's why it's essential to connect with a good therapist whom you feel comfortable with to walk alongside you. Research has consistently shown that the client-therapist relationship is one of the strongest indicators of healing. For this reason, it is essential to find someone who feels like a good emotional and professional fit. You can have a therapeutic experience like this in Union Square. Union Square is a central, accessible area where many people seek mental health support, and you can too!
Understanding the Role of a Psychotherapist
A psychotherapist is an individual trained by an accredited university who supports individuals with emotional and cognitive issues that contribute to their mental health. Therapists and counselors are trained professionals who provide talk therapy to support emotional and mental well-being. At the same time, psychiatrists are medical doctors who can diagnose mental health conditions and prescribe medication. These individuals are not all the same and employ a variety of different practices to support people on their healing journey. Psychotherapists in Union Square may use CBT, psychodynamic therapy, mindfulness, a trauma-informed lens, and so much more. They base the paradigm they use on how competent they are in using it and how well it suits you. Through this work, Therapists in Union Square help with both longstanding emotional patterns and short-term stress. Using our example individual from the beginning, this means they can help them develop some executive functioning skills to improve their organization of daily tasks, and also work through the compounded shame they have acquired over the years.
What to Look for in a Union Square Psychotherapist
When searching for a therapist, you’ll want to find someone who has the appropriate credentials, and who communicates in a way that feels supportive, curious, and nonjudgmental. For our example individual, someone who has experience working with neurodivergence, trauma, or shame-related concerns may be especially helpful. This means finding someone who gets the emotional undercurrent of always feeling “a little behind” and can hold that with care.
You can ask questions like, “What is your approach to therapy?” or “Have you worked with clients who struggle with organization or self-worth?” These questions help you get a sense of how the therapist works and whether it resonates with your lived experience.
Logistics matter too. Do you want to meet in person in Union Square before work? Would virtual sessions feel more sustainable? Is the therapist in-network with your insurance? All of these details can help ease the load for someone who already feels overwhelmed by scheduling and follow-through.
How to Start the Search Without Feeling Overwhelmed
It’s normal to feel unsure about starting therapy. When you’ve spent most of your life trying to “just figure it out” on your own, it can be hard to let another person in. Even typing “therapist near me” into a search bar can feel like admitting defeat. It’s a moment of clarity.
Start small. Ask a friend for a referral. Explore directories like Psychology Today. Check out Union Square practices, such as Humantold, where you can filter by specialty or issue. And remember: you don’t have to commit to the first person you speak with. It’s okay to meet a few therapists until you find someone who feels safe and attuned. For someone who may struggle with task initiation or decision fatigue, having support during the search can make a big difference.
What to Expect in Your First Few Therapy Sessions
In your early sessions, your therapist will likely guide you through an intake process, asking about your background, emotional experiences, and what brought you to therapy now. This is your space. For someone who’s used to masking their overwhelm or downplaying their needs, these early sessions can feel surprisingly emotional. You may find yourself naming experiences from childhood, work, or family life that you haven’t fully unpacked before.
Over time, you and your therapist will begin setting goals, exploring coping strategies, and establishing a rhythm that feels supportive. It’s okay if you feel uncertain or even awkward in the beginning. Trust builds slowly, and so does healing. And if at any point it doesn’t feel like the right match? You’re allowed to speak up and try someone new. Therapy is a relationship—and it’s supposed to work for you.
Start Your Therapy Journey in Union Square with Humantold
Humantold is proud to support the Union Square community with a diverse team of licensed psychotherapists who bring warmth, skill, and deep humanity to their work. Whether you're managing high-functioning anxiety, struggling with executive functioning, navigating identity shifts, or working through longstanding shame, Humantold therapists are here to support your growth with care.
Our practice tailors evidence-based approaches to your needs. This means support that meets you where you are, without judgment, and with the belief that healing is possible.
If you’ve been thinking about therapy, consider this your invitation. Humantold is here to help you begin with a therapist who sees all of you.