demand is probably just that high because of how society is.
it also conveniently screens out people who aren't highly motivated to get help, matching the horrible standard of care assumption that patients are high in intrinsic motivation.
A friend of mine just started their practice this year and they're already fully booked up and need to stop taking new clients. Therapists are definitely in high demand.
This is normal, unfortunately. If you are American, search around on psychology today's site. Most will therapists signal if they're taking patients or not, so you might have better luck that way
Just to add so you don't get (too) discouraged, some people are not very active in updating their entries and you can end up calling someone who is not flagged and still have them tell you they're not taking new patients.
This is what I did. My partner recommended this as well, they are a therapist and this is how many people find them. You can also try online services like open path if you're low income (there is a very low bar to prove this with them, I've been told)
Not sure where you are but if you're in America, the healthcare system is in the midst of a slow collapse right now alongside demand overwhelming the supply of mental health professionals. I've had the same exact issue, when I scroll through psychologytoday or my insurance's website the vast majority of people I see are flagged as not taking new patients. I would not be surprised if its somewhat similar in other Western states.
it doesn't seem like anywhere actually has good mental healthcare by the standards we'd apply to any other kind of care.
Depends on what type
The ones that work at a clinic who's entire purpose is to legally peddle drugs like benzos and ketamine are very easy to book
Probably because they don't actually do much except ask you some questions and be like "yea you need drugs" and never talk to you again
Shits rough. I got a primary doctor who gave me a referral and after 6 months I finally got seen by a psychiatrist. I went to the first visit and the piece of shit didn't look up from his computer once. Hed ask me weird ass questions and cut me off after two words of explanation as if he heard it all already. He ignored all my previous diagnosis by other psychiatrists and doctors and told me my PTSD and depersonalization was just anxiety and I just need to look at life differently. He then took a phone call mid session, texted a handful of times. Had a very startling alarm clock go off every 15 min and then the cherry on top he accused me of drug seeking because I explained I was tapering off benzos and he screamed at me that he wouldn't give me benzos. I told him 10x I didn't ask for any and he just went on about how I'm only at this appointment to get drugs (the one I waited 6 months for and only got because my primary and consoler told me to get one...) Needless to say it was by far the closest to suicide I've been and this was just a couple weeks ago. The piece of shit sucked any iota of hope I had left in life right away.
I got a primary doctor who gave me a referral and after 6 months I finally got seen by a psychiatrist.
Yeah, some clinical psychologists or psychiatrists are referral-only. If you can get a referral from your doctor, go for it.
I usually hear more about how therapists will refuse cases over specific mental illnesses or types of trauma if its too difficult or something to treat, rather than being enticed by it.
I guess it might be worth looking into if there are any that specifically advertise services for any of the things you deal with, if they are the kind that are "difficult" or require specialists(Not requesting disclosure of any of those things, its better to look on your own for info.)
This was my experience too. I found a provider on sondermind, which was recommended by a friend who has clients on the platform.
The US is under a mental health crisis since COVID started, and an inadequate number available clinical psychologists is a big symptom.
Am I doing something wrong?
You're not doing anything wrong just because they give you that answer initially. My psychologist in particular says they have a 6-month wait list and only take clients on the autism spectrum right now because they can be picky due to the high demand.
Am I meant to market myself to these people or something?
In the case of the clinical psych I had before moving to a new city, I called their clinic to try to schedule an initial appointment, but the clinic's receptionist said that that particular psych was not accepting new patients. I sort of did market myself, I guess, explaining that I have Autism Spectrum Disorder (a specialty of that particular provider), had recently experienced a traumatic event, and needed someone willing to medically justify job accommodations I was asking for relating to ASD. They let me schedule after that, because the receptionist wanted the clinical psych themselves to decide whether to take me on (or maybe they were within earshot). Warning you, though: Don't complain about problems you don't want to be diagnosed with.
If you still get told no, ask to be put on a wait list, rather than just accepting "No, they're not taking new patients". Also ask if they can suggest a different clinical psychologist who is currently taking patients, or who has a shorter wait list.
it took me like six months to get into therapy a few years ago. and even then, i think it wasn't really a good fit, i didn't get a choice of therapist really. between the mental health crises, underproduction of trained mental health providers, and insurance dictating where you could even potentially go, shit's really fucked.
Its because unfortunately everyone is miserable, and therapy is very, very expensive.
We've been having the same luck finding one for my SIL. You're not alone in this struggle <3 easier said than done but, keep at it.
