How did you find your therapist?

I was an undergraduate psychology student when my current therapist and another colleague of his held a free therapy group for undergrad psych students (they were graduate students at the time). For three months, I was able to see how they both worked with me and others. At the end of the group, they said they were also available for individual therapy, which I had been postponing for a while. It was a difficult choice for me between them because I wanted a female therapist but the man who is currently my therapist was by far the better prepared one. He had had years of training while his female colleague was just beginning, and it showed even though they were both good. Eventually I stuck with the therapist that was a better fit for my needs and I'm glad I did (even though it turned out his colleague was offering free therapy and he charged me). I would not have made such deep changes with the other therapist and I would not be where I am today without my therapist.

I feel very fortunate to have had this unique opportunity to really experience those therapists' work before I picked one, and that they were so good in spite of their lack of experience. I know most people go directly into individual sessions with a therapist they don't know and I think that takes a lot of courage.

I've found one every way possible, including the phone book. A couple of the personal references left me scratching my head, wondering how in the world they could have gotten rave reviews from the people I'd talked to (and one where all of us were in hysterics over how bad our shared therapist was). I found my therapist in a convoluted way, and feel very fortunate. She doesn't advertise on psychology today or any other site and does not take my insurance.

I found my therapist on accident while trying to find a psychiatrist. I wasn't really up to looking for someone myself, so my mom tried to find someone for me. She looked on the internet and called around, and she found someone who she said could give me meds. When I had my first appointment, I found out she didn't prescribe medicine, and that my mom had misunderstood. But even though I wasn't even looking for a therapist at the time, I decided to try it with her because she said that it's best to do therapy along with medication, and because I just really liked her right away. I'm really glad my mom got mixed up and found her instead of a psychiatrist, because I really love my T.

My parents found the therapist through a website and that's how I started going.

I was in a partial program for eating disorders, and she was assigned to be my primary therapist. After I left the program, I started seeing her in her private practice.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

My high school had a list of people that they suggested as outside resources. My t was the mother of a past graduate.

I have a close friend whose husband is a renowned psychiatrist in bipolar disorder. I called him and got a referral from him.

got a list from my insurance then I called around until I found a place close to me that did trauma work.

I was referred to the pdoc from a T agency by my pediatrician. He set me up with a T. When she left she set me up with another T. When I went into residential the program set me up with another T. Etc etc

I got a list from my insurance company and showed it to my pdoc and took his recommendation.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

My mum (I was initially against it) found her in the phone book (the first name there was given that her surname started with A)... I feel really lucky that we work so well together, it could have been a lot worse.

Both my previous T and current T were found starting with Psychology Today. I used the search engine to find someone in my area, who took my insurance, and who had expertise in my areas of difficulty (specifically eating disorders and trauma). I then looked at their therapeutic orientation and current T's website. Then, I e-mailed and talked on the phone for 10-15 minutes. My gut is usually pretty spot-on when I meet people. I worked with previous T for 5 years... went well and I really did learn and grow a LOT, but it didn't end so well (unethical abandonment). I've been with current T for 20 months. It has gone very well, and I've learned more and grown with him as well.

A good friend of mine recommended me his therapist.

I called my insurance provider and got a few names, then went from there.

I found my current T with google, sort of. I was looking for someone who has experience with soicial anxiety and I chose thise office she works at. I had an intake and then someone from the T's was assigned to me. I'm lucky it was her, it worked out very well.

All the T and therapy before my current T were referals. First one from my GP and all the others were referals from whatever T I was with then, and my parents agreed with them.
All kind of sucked, so that's why I decided to look for a T by myself instead of just trusting the ''professional''.

My current t was found via professional referral (though at the time the t who referred me was only referring for a group. She later dropped me and this t picked me up. Best thing to happen though).

Prior t's were found through insurance or Internet search. My first t was an assignment from a student work position, and several t's after her were through the college. Only one was found through personal referral, but she wasn't available and the practice partner I ended up with want a good match.

In my area there are a few short term psychologist that specialize in referrals. They assess the issues, decide if they can sort it out in 4 sessions or less, and if not refer you on. I was given a list of 6-8 therapist. She pointed out two she thought would be good for my situation. I called alphabetically, and the first one I clicked with. We spent 30 minutes on the phone, and the rest is history. Eighteen months later I terminated, and then called the referring psychologist to thank her.

I found my T through my dietitian who I found through my dietitian from another state (I moved). That one I just got matched with at my university when I was encouraged to make an appointment.