First therapist: found her through my EAP, which only gave out names of therapists on my insurance plan. She was OK for a time, but her skill set was not deep, and I outgrew what she had to offer. I can't say she was a particularly good match for me and my needs. She was in private practice.

Current therapist: a colleague of a friend recommended him for my particular issue and my friend passed the name on to me. So I guess I would say I found him by private referral. He turned out to be perfect for my needs. He is in private practice.

Family therapist: my current T referred me to him for family therapy with my daughter and me. He was really good. No complaints. He is in private practice.

Daughter's therapist: my current T gave me her name. She's been great. She is in private practice.

My PNP: referral from my current T. She's really good. She is in private practice.

I think a great way is to get referrals from trusted friends, colleagues, and healthcare practitioners. (For example, ask your doctor for referrals, or ask a T you know and respect, or a pdoc if you have one.)

Some of the therapists I mentioned above share a waiting room, but they are not a group practice. I think it is very common locally for therapists to be in private practice, even the ones who are part of my insurance plan. The clinic my GP practices at is just for medical docs (many specialties as well as GPs) and has no therapists (or pdocs either). I did ask my GP once for a referral for a child therapist, and he had a hard time producing any names, so I think they are just not very tied into mental health concerns at this practice. I guess I assumed therapists at a hospital would be for in-patient treatment ("hospitalists").

DM, are you in practice now? If so, how do you find your clients? Or if still in training, how do you expect to find clients when you are independent? Did they teach you much about things like that--the business side of therapy--during your training?