Psychologists vary. The first one I went to couldn’t stop talking about the bipolar stripper who counted her cash in front of him each session. When he did finally stop talking about her he would focus on my portfolio (I was trading stocks regularly at the time.) Needless to say I stopped going to him.

Years later after a hospitalization I saw a female therapist who was not a fit at all. She discounted my experience by avoiding discussion of things that she felt were not real (hearing voices, etc.) so I walked out.

A short time ago I was matched with a therapist through a state agency that actually took the time to match patients with specialists and even matched them according to gender preference if that was important to the patient. For example, my therapist regularly deals with patients who suffer or have suffered with psychosis. He seems to be a good match at least for now.

I think it is important that you consider what your goals are through therapy, their specialty, if the gender of the therapist is important to you, cost, frequency of visits and other things that are important to you. Talk about those goals you have with the therapist on your initial visit that way you won’t have to open up as much before getting a bit of a feel for them. You may have to test the waters a bit until you find that right fit.

I wish you the best.