How much do you trust online reviews of Pdocs / Therapists?

My pdoc referred me to a therapist who works in the same office as him, and I saw the therapist for the first time today. She seemed alright, but after I got home I typed her name into google and the only review for her online is a "1 Star" on HealthGrades.

I'm planning on going back for at least a couple more sessions, but I was wondering how seriously the rest of you all take "reviews" before/after meeting a psychiatrist or therapist? Do those reviews end up proving to be right?

I'll look at it, but then again it just may those that had bad experiences posting whereas those that had a good experience may not provide a review. If I had bad experiences anywhere, I'll post it. So I take into consideration how recent the reviews are, how many reviews, and what they actually say. But I'll admit, I'll probably be more likely to choose the one with better reviews. However, what is most important is how you felt with her.
I just looked up a few of my doctors and the reviews vary, but I have liked or still work with them.

One review is not enough to go on. I'd say you'd need at least 10 or even 20 before you could get some reliable data. Ignore the review and judge for yourself.

What Gina said.

Yeah, it could just be one person with a grudge. I agree you need a bunch of reviews before judging someone negatively. BUT if I saw someone with a lot of good reviews I'd go there.

There's so much that varies from each individual relationship, that I wouldn't take one review to heart. And even a pattern of good reviews doesn't mean he/she is "good" - might just mean a bunch of good relationships!

Exactly. People with negative experiences are more likely to write a review.

My old insurance used to make it easy to search for good pdocs and therapists. As part of their policy, they would have patients periodically fill out "status reports" to see how effective their pdoc or therapist was. Then, if a pdoc/therapist was particularly effective, they were listed under the "recommended" doctors... while the ineffective ones were just listed as "options". That's how I found my current therapist, but I'm on a different insurance plan now, so I don't have access to the doctor recommendations anymore

I wouldn't trust online reviews.
The Pdoc who abused me way back, then started working with children had no bad reviews. No disciplinary hearings on his medical record either.
I was too ashamed to contact the med board. But I'll bet I wasn't the only young woman he was putting in a bad place.

Luckily he has retired. I looked up where he lives. It's close to a beach I frequent in CA. I have fantasies of doing something.maybe TP his house.
I hope he just dies soon. But I don't know if that would help me heal. He's a predator and a criminal.

I don't. For one thing there is research showing that people are much more likely to be negative on those than positive. For another I once saw my pdoc get low rankings---because someone mixed her up with a pediatrician of the same name.

They also can be very outdated. About 8 years ago all healthcare providers were assigned these numbers and the site providers created profiles using the information linked to the number. So I'm listed with the work address I had all that time ago with the invitation to rate me when I moved jobs later that year and haven't worked in 4 years.