there are many websites that offer "locate a therapist" area where you can type in your area and it will give you the names of those professionals in that area. Then you can contact your state board of clinical social workers and they will tell you if the person you are lookigng into seeing has had any bad reports and disciplinary action against them

But each person has their own preference and needs when seeing a therapy professional so unfortunately to find out if you like that person you have to go see them your self. One way not to have to shell out mega bucks is to stay away from private business type places. Stick with mental health agencies you see in the phone book that lists more than one or two professionals names. The private sector is more apt to require you to pay for the consult of deciding oif you want to see them.

Another way is to go through a crisis center like domestic violence or rape crisis center. You don't walk in and say I want to find a therapist but don't want to pay to find out if I want to see then. You walk in the door and say something like I was abused and need someone to talk to. Then a vullunteer or staff will spend some time talking to you about your problem and somewhere in talking about your problem say something like - I know crisis centers are sometimes limited in what they can do for people so do you know of anyone in the area that is good with my type of problems. The answer is usually "no but we can help you do that"

Consults are not always billed when a crisis center type person attends the consult wqith the person checking out the new therapist. LOL at least not in my experience of using crisis centers to locate services.

the same for domestic violence agencies. if someone from their agency goes with it usually doesnt get billed.

Going through crisis centers and domestic violence agencies too you can also ask the counselor if its possible to meet the professional at the crisis center or domestic violence office instead of going to their office. Sometimes mental health people do that.

Alot of questions also can be asked of a receptionist for free such as - does your agency have sliding scale fee paying options, what it your agencys protocal for after hours needs, suicidal needs, self injury needs. cost of seeing one of that agencys therapists, if there is a fee for meeting a therapist to ask questions and decide if I want to see them because I am researching my options before committing to a therapist.