I started with psychodynamic from early on so in a sense it was pure luck that I started there.

However, I still went through multiple therapists that were psychodynamic, but a really bad fit for me.

My first T in my teens was a nice but inexperienced female T. The clinic just made the assumption that I would want a female T. (My early abuser in a daycare setting was female )

My next T was a more experienced female T but she was very hostile towards me. She had a previous working relationship with my stepfather so I never understood why she wasn't pulled from my case. Worst therapist!!

The next was a male psychiatrist who seemed to be working out but after 1.5 years he essentially dumped me because he wanted me to get a second t to manage my suicidal; feelings. A situation I could not afford to comply with--and it was just a stupid idea.

I had a temp T who was male and although I kind of liked him, he was too much like me at the time---dark and moody. He felt more like a parole officer than a T.

My longtime T was finally the right fit--warm, caring, humble , smart and flexible--and truly committed.

It was highly painful to break ties with most of my bad-fit T's. But in the end having the right T for me made the difference between wanting to live or die.