User Guide — How to Use the Directory

This guide walks through every major feature of Oregon Counselors Directory, for both people searching for therapy and providers managing their listing.

For Clients: Finding a Therapist

1. Start with the search bar

The search bar at the top of every page lets you type what you need — a specialty ("anxiety"), a city ("Portland"), an insurance plan ("OHP"), or a modality ("EMDR"). Autocomplete surfaces the most relevant landing pages as you type. Pressing Enter takes you to the full provider list filtered by your query.

2. Use the match quiz if you're not sure

Visit /match to take a 3-question quiz. We ask where you are, what you're dealing with, and your insurance situation — then show a small shortlist of providers who fit. The match quiz is free and never stores personal info without your consent.

3. Narrow by filters

On /providers and every SEO hub page you can refine results with filters:

Telehealth — online-only providers (video / phone sessions)
OHP / Medicaid — providers who accept Oregon Health Plan
Accepting clients — only providers with confirmed openings
Specialty — narrow by what you want help with (anxiety, trauma, ADHD, grief, etc.)
Modality — narrow by therapy type (CBT, EMDR, IFS, Somatic, etc.)
Insurance — check providers who accept your plan (supports 194+ plans including all OHP aliases)
Sliding scale — fee-adjustable providers

4. Read a provider profile

Click any provider card to see their full profile — bio, credentials, specialties, modalities, fees, location, telehealth status, insurance list, and (for Pro-tier providers) a video intro. Every profile links directly to the provider's booking or contact page.

5. Contact directly, no middleman

Oregon Counselors Directory takes no referral fee and never inserts itself between you and the provider. When you're ready, reach out through the provider's own website, email, or phone number.

For Providers: Managing Your Listing

1. Check if you're already listed

We import licensed Oregon providers from public license databases. Search for your name at /providers. If you find yourself, claim your profile — it takes 2 minutes and requires your license number and the email on file.

2. Or create a new listing

If you're not in our database, register a new account. We review new listings within 24 hours before they go live.

3. Complete your profile

Every profile has a completeness score (0–1000 points). Your dashboard shows which fields earn the most points. Higher scores rank higher in search results within the same tier. Things that move the needle:

Profile photo + bio (at least 400 words)
Specialties + modalities (mark every one you actually practice)
Insurance list (accurate and up-to-date)
Video intro (Pro tier only)
Session fees + sliding scale availability
Telehealth + in-person flags set correctly

4. Upgrade for leads, analytics, and placement

Free listings always work — but Growth ($10/mo) and Pro ($25/mo) unlock lead notifications, analytics, and featured placement. See the full breakdown at /pricing.

5. Update availability

6. Respond to leads quickly

Growth and Pro subscribers get emailed the moment a matched client wants to connect. Responding within 24 hours dramatically improves conversion. The leads dashboard shows status for every lead you've received.

For Clinic Administrators

If you run a group practice, a Clinic subscription covers every provider at your organization under one account. Clinic admins see the clinic dashboard with roster management, bulk invite, and combined lead routing. Contact us for clinic pricing.

Privacy & Crisis Resources

We never sell user data. We don't share anything about you with providers unless you explicitly send a lead. If you're in crisis, call or text 988 — the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is free, confidential, and staffed 24/7.

Still stuck?

Check our FAQ or email support@orcounselors.com. We respond within one business day.