Check out online reviews if you can find them. I failed to do that with the psychiatrist who royally effed up my life. I checked out the new one extensively. She got only glowing reviews -- their were either true or planted by someone paid to make her look good -- so, I made an appointment. They were/are true, she is beyond awesome. Doesn't make up for the damage the first one did to me psychologically, but I know that the first one was not the norm for the profession as a whole.