[CantExplain]

When one T recommends another, is that really any better than choosing one at random?

On what basis do Ts recommend each other anyway?

[lrt1978]

When my old T referred me to another T, the old T done an assessment, she was a psychologist, then she rang round and done what if's with other psychologists to find one who could help me as my old psychologist knew exactly what type of treatment I needed.

I have now been seeing my new psychologist since may and she is really helping me with the stuff my old psychologist couldn't work on due to not having the right experience.

I wouldn't of known where to start to be honest and once she had spoken to a few and found a psychologist that could help and could work with me they kept in contact with each other until it was time for the referral to be done.

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[feralkittymom]

I think referrals are as good as the T who gives them. People affiliate with others like them, people hire others like them, and people tend to respect others who are of like mind. So if you think a T is competent and professional (even if there are personality differences you don't like), then the referral will probably be competent and professional. I think looking through directories blindly is about the worst way to find any professional.

[stopdog]

I have found the worst way for me to find a therapist is by personal friend reference. The craziest therapist I ever saw is quite popular and a friend of mine swore she saved his life. I found one of the two I see now by internet search (and then it was found out I knew someone who saw her and that she was referred often by another well known therapist) - this is the one with whom I am in a constant frustrated rage. The second one I see was a referral from my partner's therapist who talked to me and found out what I was looking for and made 2 recommendations. I don't fight with the second one.

[Syra]

I think a referral is better than 50-50, but no where close to even 80 or 90% success. Profssioanals know each other as colleagues, not as a therapist. But they do hear stories, particularly bad stories.

In my experience trying to get references for family and friends from my T, he has the worst taste in other therapists EVER. LOL. The people he has referred my H to were awful, and the therapist referrals for another person was only so-so. One person had left active practice even. He admitted he doesn't hang out with other therapists that much.

Originally Posted by CantExplain

When one T recommends another, is that really any better than choosing one at random?

On what basis do Ts recommend each other anyway?

I think: One bad apples hangs with other bad apples.

A referral from a bad T is dangerous. They are referring you to colleagues they know and probably associate with.

I would rather take a crap shot.

My xT referred me to T2. I was looking for a female T who did CBT. He said he had spoken to her before professionally and had met her at conference that collegues went to and that he had a lot of respect for her.

She was good.

[unlockingsanity]

Originally Posted by CantExplain

When one T recommends another, is that really any better than choosing one at random?

On what basis do Ts recommend each other anyway?

My T referred me to another T he knew, who had more experience. Best thing that other T did for me was to refer me to this other T.

[CantExplain]

Originally Posted by feralkittymom

I think referrals are as good as the T who gives them. People affiliate with others like them, people hire others like them, and people tend to respect others who are of like mind.

This is the danger. If T refers you to another T who is just like them, what have you gained?

[pbutton]

My T referred me to the absolute most wonderful pdoc.

[unlockingsanity]

Originally Posted by CantExplain

This is the danger. If T refers you to another T who is just like them, what have you gained?

Yeah, but you can ask if they are similar or different.

[feralkittymom]

Originally Posted by CantExplain

This is the danger. If T refers you to another T who is just like them, what have you gained?

That's the point. If you think a T is incompetent, there's no point in asking them for a referral. But if you think the T is competent, but for other reasons not a good fit, then a referral will probably also be competent. Whether or not that T will be a good fit, is up to you to determine by meeting with them. I wouldn't expect a T to be able to predict that for me.

I think it also depends upon how the referring Ts practice: are they professionally active? Are they involved in professional organizations and groups? If it's a solo T who isn't involved outside the practice, the ability to refer is going to be compromised, as is the T's professional knowledge of another T.

[CantExplain]

I guess we can always ask, "What makes you think this T would be a good fit?"

[skysblue]

Well, I think referrals can only go so far. It's all about the relationship, in my opinion, and even if our T's think another T is a 'good fit', we still may not resonate with that person.

I found that out when my T recommended another T in her office who I could see while she was gone a month. It was terrible. We just did not connect.

If you think that that mismatch occurred just cuz she wasn't MY T, I have also gone to couples' counseling and I loved that T.

So, again, referral might be a good first step, but then you'll need to check out your own connection with new T.