The psychiatrist does not know that I feel this way. I think he would have been willing to refer me to a male, if I had made him aware... but I'm a bit embarrassed by it. I'm kinda weird, I guess. I actually have trust issues with/fear of men. I can't talk to them without a large degree of anxiety EXCEPT for in therapy, where it's okay. Perhaps I'm heaping all the trust I have left into whatever poor, unsuspecting guy ends up with me as a client (historically).

I agree that it is an issue worth exploring... I just can't decide if I want to explore it with a female or a male therapist, and I don't know that I want this to be the first issue on the table... there are probably other things that should be addressed first. I think for now, it would probably be best to see the woman again, tell her that I feel this way, and ask what she would recommend. I'm sure she can understand issues like this.

Deliquesce - I think the training differences are similar here. Clinical psychs are in school considerably longer, and I don't think the Master's level social workers, etc. are required to take the same certification exams. I might be wrong, but that's my understanding... that PhDs are more educated and better qualified.