Therapy can help manage depression, but in-person treatment can be costly, and scheduling can be a challenge. You can connect with an online mental health professional in your state who is covered by Cigna insurance. Here are all the details.
If you’re ready to get started with online therapy for depression, live in Texas, and have Cigna insurance, you might consider these top quality therapists and mental health professionals.
We’ve teamed up with Octave to help you pick a therapist based on these criteria and give you tips on what to think about as you start your search.
Types of mental health professionals
Social workers: They typically hold a bachelor’s or master’s degree in social work (BSW or MSW) and are trained to support individuals and communities in managing various challenges through counseling, advocacy, and resource coordination.
Therapists or counselors: They often have a master’s or doctoral degree (PhD) in psychology, counseling, or a related field, equipping them with the skills to provide mental health support through counseling, psychotherapy, and personalized treatment plans.
Licensed psychologists: They hold a doctoral degree in psychology (PhD or PsyD) and are trained to conduct psychological assessments, therapy, and research to help people navigate mental health challenges and improve overall well-being.
Social workers
- Gordon Climer, LCSW, works with adults, children, and families, using therapies such as Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and cognitive and mindfulness-based approaches.
- Geoffrey Ryan, LCSW, specializes in treating anxiety, depression, and coexisting conditions using a combination of therapeutic approaches, including CBT and EMDR.
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Clinical psychologist
- Tom Johnson, PsyD, is an experienced clinical psychologist offering individual, couples, and family psychotherapy to adolescents and adults.
Professional counselors
- Bradie Harbison, LPC, specializes in working with clients facing depression, mood disorders, and traumas and uses an eclectic approach that integrates various therapeutic methods.
- Shirley Power, LPC, uses a range of theoretical approaches and techniques to empower individuals to initiate positive life changes.
- Esther Alasa, LPC, specializes in counseling adolescents and adults who have faced trauma, life-altering events, and mental health challenges.
- Brea Johnson, LPC, works with a diverse clientele, including older adults and the LGBTQIA community, and has experience treating depression and anxiety.
- Jose Sanchez, LPC, uses an integrative therapeutic approach drawing from existential and CBT approaches to help manage various conditions, including depression and other mood disorders.
If you have a depression diagnosis or just want to get support, finding a therapist who fits you and your needs can be an important first step. The right therapist can help tailor a depression treatment plan that’s best for you while also making you feel comfortable and at ease as you manage this condition.
Here are some tips on how to find the right mental health professional to help with your depression.
Use online resources
You can use online directories to find therapists near you. Consider choosing a few potentials and interviewing them. You can ask questions about the therapist’s:
- experience treating depression
- treatment approach
- training and credentials
- ability to prescribe medication
- availability of telehealth or online appointments
- recommendations if you don’t get better
Some online directory options are the American Psychological Association’s Psychologist Locator and the National Register of Health Service Psychologists’ Find a Psychologist. These tools allow you to search by ZIP code and practice area.
The Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA) also has a Find Your Therapist tool where you can filter options by treatment methods, professional focus, and service to certain communities, like older adults and Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) folks.
Agencies like Octave that connect people with online therapy are another option. With online therapy, you can start your journey of depression treatment in the security of your own home. You receive the same level of professional, dedicated mental health service as you would in an in-person setting.
How to choose the right therapist for you
- Determine if you feel more comfortable with a certain type of professional (male, female, nonbinary, younger, older, etc.).
- Learn or ask about their focus areas in terms of conditions they treat.
- Learn or ask what types of individuals they have treated, such as students, first responders, neurodivergence, trauma, blended families, couples, LGBTQ+, etc.
- Determine if there is a specific therapy style, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), that would work best for you. That may help determine if you want the different professionals to be trained in a certain therapeutic area.
- Learn or ask about their communication style and/or interests.
- Find out about their years of experience.
Referrals
You might consider finding a therapist through referral. This can be a formal process where a primary doctor recommends a certain psychiatrist or psychologist.
A referral can also be informal. You might know someone who’s lived with depression and had a positive experience with a therapist. Starting with this same therapist might work for you, as your friend might have some insight into how they approach treatment.
Depression hits everyone differently, so the right therapist for someone you know might not be the best fit for you. Support your own well-being by keeping your options open to find a new therapist if necessary.
If you’re already seeing a counselor or other type of mental health professional, they might recommend a therapist who’s better able to meet your individual needs. This is another kind of referral. Perhaps you’re looking for someone who offers a different approach, has specific training, or can prescribe medication.
Insurance
Some insurance plans only cover therapists who are in network or on a roster of preferred practitioners. You might ask your insurer about coverage for mental health services and whether they recommend therapists.
Some insurers might pay some of the cost of out-of-network therapists but ask you to pay more out of pocket.
You can also ask about insurance coverage when finding therapists through other avenues. When you interview potential therapists, consider asking about their fees and whether they accept your insurance.
Government resources
The federal government has several options for people to find mental health support.
Some of these services are tailored to specific experiences, like the Disaster Distress Helpline for people in crisis after a natural disaster. The Veterans Crisis Line is run by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and helps those who have served.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) also runs a National Helpline where people can find treatment and referral information for mental health.
Other options
You might also inquire at a local community health clinic about mental health resources. If you’re attending college, you might have access to on-campus therapists at no cost or reduced cost.
Nonprofit organizations can also be excellent resources for people experiencing depression. The Open Path Psychotherapy Collective is a nationwide network that offers reduced cost mental health services both in-person and online.
If you’re experiencing symptoms of depression, you’re not alone. According to the American Psychiatric Association, about 18% of people are currently living with depression, and 29% have received a depression diagnosis in their lifetime.
Depression is not only quite common but treatable.
If you’re feeling sad and hopeless or have physical symptoms like fatigue, appetite changes, or problems concentrating, you might want to talk with a family doctor. They can rule out other medical conditions, like viruses or thyroid changes, that can cause depression symptoms.
Depression is a common and treatable condition. For most people, the first step in depression treatment is talk therapy. This can mean working with a therapist to help manage and treat depression symptoms.
You have options to find the right therapist. Online directories, your insurance company, government resources, and nonprofit organizations can all connect you to a therapist.
Octave is another option for finding in-person or virtual therapy that fits your budget and your schedule.