I know your stressing ! but your making me LOL a bit Yes you can handle the truth

Okay I'll be serious now....

Your prev T kinda sorta sucked and didn't really seem to be of much help.

As for meeting a new T it's really like an interview for a job , But really YOU are interviewing the T. You need to know what there policy about visits , calls between sessions, What about an emergency, Does this person pay attention to your questions and give answers that seem compassionate. Ask what type of therapy they offer.. 4 years ago I was IP and had to see a T a week after I was disharged they made the appt,

Anyway I was seeing this woman that was more worried about her hair and when I asked her questions she pull the whole... Why do you feel this way or what to know .. blahblahblahblah.. The next visit I asked about if she had come up with a plan to help me.. She said a Plan? Then told me she was retiring in 6 months.. Like wtf? really? this is waste of time.. I asked her to refer me to another T and she agreed to let me know the following week, meanwhile I for some reason was curious how she filed for her visits so I called my insurance company and she had billed for a 60 min session .. But I was only with the ditz for 30 mins each time.

So I got furious, furious about her lousy attitude and of course her false billing. So I called to complain..I was routed to a person half the state away that worked for the company.. Less than an hour later I got a call from the Admin of the center asking if I could come see him the following day.

So I went... him and I just kinda clicked, he of course was sorry about what happened and assured me that he would deal with the incorrect billing and also talk to that T. So he asked me what kinda problems I was struggling with... I asked him the above questions and he explained the way he would want to address my struggles ( un diagnosed Bipolar at that time) He has a goal driven therapy.. He told me he no longer sees anyone that just wants to "chat " If I just want to come in and talk he could refer me to many T's at the practice He was willing to work hard but I needed to want to make changes not just talk about it.. I knew right then that he was "right for me..

Anyway over 3 years later he has saved my life numerous times, He's pushed me when he felt it was needed, He's challenged me...

He told me about 6 weekly sessions in that he felt I had Bipolar I Now he couldn't make a "legal" diagnosis but when he explained "why" it made perfect sense. Explained alot things from my past. My Pdoc that works at this place readily agreed and tossed me that diagnostic code and changed his treatment approach at once.

I have a life now that I didnt think would be possible when I walked into his office.

So my advice, you have gotten it before and know I don't bullshyt or coddle..

Ask your T questions .. If he/she doesnt respond or acts annoyed at the questions then you might need to find another. The T is going to have questions for you too.. But if the balance is off then it might not be a good fit.

When I got out of IP and sent to a T I felt it was my last chance to get help. the initial T "she" sucked so I basically moved on and I was lucky I found Richard.

I think this way ... If Therapy isn't hard then your not doing it right"

Love ya !