How We Verify Therapists — Feel Validated

Most directories let therapists check boxes and call it a profile. We don't. This page walks through exactly what we verify, how we verify it, and what we won't do as a business.

Three levels of evidence

Every specialty area on a Feel Validated profile is backed by evidence. We use three levels, each clearly labeled so you can see exactly how a credential was confirmed.

✓ Verified

Confirmed in a public database

We checked a certifying body's searchable directory and confirmed this credential independently. The therapist didn't tell us — we confirmed it ourselves.

Example: "EMDR training verified via EMDRIA therapist directory" — meaning we searched the EMDRIA database and found them listed.

◉ Documented

Supported by submitted evidence

The therapist provided documentation — such as a certificate of completion, a CE transcript, a training organization letter, a performance review from a prior position, or a conference presentation on the topic — and we reviewed it. The evidence is real and specific.

Example: "Gottman Level 2 training, documented via certificate of completion, 2022" — meaning we've seen the certificate.

◎ Reviewed

Assessed by a licensed clinician

A licensed clinician reviewed the therapist's description of their clinical experience in this area — looking for specificity, depth, and clinical fluency. This matters most for areas where formal certification doesn't exist but real expertise does.

Example: "Grief and loss work reviewed — 8 years in hospice setting, ongoing consultation group focused on bereavement" — assessed by our clinical reviewer for depth and specificity.

What the review process looks like

Every therapist who joins Feel Validated goes through a structured onboarding process. Here's what happens before a profile goes live.

1

We research their public presence

Before a therapist even uploads anything, we review their state license board records, directory listings, training organization databases, and professional website. We're looking at what they claim and where we can independently confirm it.

2

They submit documentation

Therapists upload training certificates, CE transcripts, and other evidence of their clinical specializations. This is where most directories stop asking questions — it's where we start.

3

A licensed clinician reviews everything

A licensed clinical social worker reviews the evidence, cross-references it with public records, and assesses narratives for clinical depth and specificity. This is a clinical review, not an automated check.

4

Evidence tags are assigned

Each specialty area on the profile gets labeled with the level of evidence supporting it — Verified, Documented, or Reviewed. Nothing is hidden. You see exactly what we confirmed and how.

5

Therapist review and Practice Pledge

Before going live, every therapist reviews their profile for accuracy and is asked to agree to the Feel Validated Practice Pledge — a set of public commitments around honesty, scope of practice, and ongoing professional development.

How this compares

Here's the difference between what you see on a typical directory and what you see on Feel Validated.

Typical directories

☐ Therapist self-selects from dozens of checkboxes

☐ No one confirms any of it

☐ All profiles look the same regardless of depth

☐ Profiles may funnel you to a different clinician than the one you chose

☐ Platform may pressure therapists to fill slots outside their expertise

Feel Validated

✓ Each specialty backed by specific, visible evidence

✓ Reviewed by a licensed clinician before going live

✓ Depth of training is visible — not hidden behind identical checkboxes

✓ You contact the therapist directly — no redirects, no bait and switch

✓ No pay-for-placement — results based on fit, not fees

Search that actually understands what you're looking for

Some directory search tools return over a hundred results no matter what you type — even nonsense. That's not search. That's a list.

On Feel Validated, search results are based on what you actually described and how it matches each therapist's verified training and experience. If you describe what you're going through, we match you with therapists whose documented expertise is relevant to your situation. If no one on the directory is a strong match for what you need, we'll tell you that — rather than showing you everyone and hoping for the best.

Every search result includes a specific explanation generated from the therapist's verified training and your actual query — not a generic blurb.

You get matches that fit, not a list to sort through. Every therapist who appears in your results was reviewed for the specific thing you're looking for — not surfaced because they paid more, or updated their profile last.

Our commitments

How Feel Validated operates as a business — and what we won't do.

No pay-for-placement. We don't accept payment for higher placement, sponsored results, or boosted profiles. Search results are based on fit with what you're looking for — not on who paid more.
No cut of therapist earnings. Therapists pay a flat membership to be listed. We don't take a percentage of what they earn from clients, and we don't insert ourselves into payment between clients and therapists.
No selling user data. We don't sell, share, or monetize information about people who use this site to search for therapists. (See our Privacy Policy for full details.)

What we do is make evidence visible. A therapist is either validated in a given area — meaning they've cleared a meaningful evidence threshold — or they're not yet. The evidence tags tell you exactly what supports each claim. You get to decide what matters to you.

How We Verify