Even with good insurance it can be a remarkably difficult process. I happen to have excellent private insurance, and even live in sort of an especially affluent area of the U.S. (not that it's any reflection on my own situation) but we have a real scarcity of psych practitioners here. Because it's a "sellers' market", the service one receives is often less than exemplary on many levels, and that's after working ridiculously hard just to find someone who will even consider meeting with a new client.

Unfortunately, consistently lousy service can be received at any price or location.


As one might surmise, I've been through the same, and many times in fact -- and it really is the worst kind of salt on the wound, to go for help when feeling at one's most vulnerable and be treated in what feels like an inherently dismissive fashion. Sarah, the only bright spot I can see in this is that maybe it's better to have noticed the mismatch right away; better sooner than later, if she's really not suited to you, or you to her.

Have you considered talking to the doctor that referred you, about the experience you had, and about what next steps you might be able to take to get the kind of help you need? It's subjective to say, but I know that for me most of my regrets in life have been about not having stuck up for myself at times I had every right and reason to.

I hope things get better.