I chose my therapist because I wanted a female therapist who was competent with LGBT issues. That's really all I knew going in. I kept going back because she was kind and really listened and had a good sense of humor. I had a sense that she would never judge me or push me to do things I wasn't ready for. In a word, she seemed trustworthy. The "fit" is so important, and it's hard to know ahead of time whether you'll have chemistry or not. Best of luck with your search.