[atisketatasket]

A discussion on another thread got me wondering: how do most people find their therapist or psychiatrist?

I've found all of my current crew by professional referral. I found my first, very brief one that lasted 5-6 sessions decades ago by a personal referral. Of the three I saw once each, I initially found two in the phone book (go on, laugh; the internet wasn't my go-to place yet, plus AltaVista was the top search engine then) and one on Psychology Today.

The ones I'm interviewing next week are all professional referrals.

I am not interested in which method is best, just how people found them.

I love the blue flower on your avatar, beautiful! I found my therapist and shrink through my pcp. I was having divorce issues and they referred me to them as an extention to my dr. office. It was okay while it lasted, but i would not go back. tc

Found mine through my nurse (cpn) she referred me to my therapist.

Professional referrals 20+ years ago took me to people I didn't connect with at all, so I gave up. I found my current T through occupational health/ employee assistance. I'm very lucky, she's brilliant. Just who I needed, following a breakdown last year. Hope it continues.

[AllHeart]

Initially found a good, trauma specialized t through Psychology Today. About 7 months in, she decided to take another job and then referred me to my current t whom takes clients by referrals only.

BACP (British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy) find a therapist website.

[BayBrony]

Seriously this is how I found the T I've had for 4 years who is amazing.
I googled "therapist, nearest city to me"
I rejected everyone without a doctoral degree and all the male therapists.
The remaining people I looked up whether they dealt with my main issues and isolated the 6 who seemed to.have the most appropriate areas of specialty

Then I stared at the names and picked two to email. One person emailed back but I didn't like the way they wrote it, kind of cold. They suggested I make an appointment.
Current T wrote back with a more laid back attitude and suggested a phone call first to see if I felt comfortable with her style. I did , so we set up an appointment.

I feel like I hit the lottery. I can't imagine there is another T within driving distance that I would work so.well with.

I voted several different ways because I've had three long-term therapists and connected with each in a different way: One I knew personally from my work and was familiar with her excellent reputation as a therapist in our community. I had referred a lot of families to her and not one of them ever had a complaint about the work they did with her. The second one I asked a professional for her opinion of who was a solid, well-trained, experienced psychotherapist in the community that she personally would go to if she wanted a new therapist. I respected this professional's opinion. The third I found in the Psychology Today Psychotherapist's Directory--mainly because I moved to a new community and knew absolutely no one.

I will admit that I interviewed a LOT of therapists in the Psychology Today Directory before I found one that I connected with, and even with her, I continued to interview other therapists for a bit before I really decided she was the one I wanted to work with long term. Finding a therapist is exhausting.

[stopdog]

I found the first one from psych today and the second one from someone else's therapist referral list.
The worst one I ever tried seeing more than once was a personal friend referral and was a phd. That one was batshit crazy.

[NowhereUSA]

I put "none of the above" - I was referred to the clinic's DBT program by a professional. When I called they asked if I preferred a male or female T. I said I didn't care. They put me with a male T and he's been my T since. I've also learned I prefer male Ts.

Insurance list which provided information about his credentials, years of experience, case load, specialties, etc.

[laxer12]

I had just moved to a new state so I did a Google search and found the practice she is a part of. I looked through the therapist bios on the site and chose her. I would say that I got really lucky with choosing her

I did a Google search. Sent him a message and he called me within a couple hours. The rest is history.

[magno11789]

The first therapist I had I found through a friend referral. My last T and my current T I found them both through Psychology Today.

[Out There]

Regular T I initially got referred to through my employer , so chosen for me but we clicked and I continued to see him privately. Second T by an internet search so I knew specifically the T I would be seeing. Third T seeking specific treatment through a clinic but didn't know who he was until I met him.

[junkDNA]

met him in a residential treatment facility when i was admitted there

[nottrustin]

I had been seeing my FNP for a couple of years. She knew I was in a really bad place so she wanted me to see both a therapist and a psychiatrist. FNP had been trying to do it all but I am so sensitive to meds and she knew there was so many layers to my issues. I kept refusing both because I work in the psych hospital in our area and wanted nothing to do with seeing anybody there. She had a person she worked with for years at a hospital and talked to her anonymously about me. FNP told me this person was the only T she would trust to work with me. So eventually I broke down and started seeing T.

I tried 3 Ts from my gp referral, none of them 'clicked" i found my T by just ringing round the practices. My only criteria was they had to be available after hours as my work did not like people taking time off. He wasn't ideal but he was way better than the other 3.

[Polibeth]

As an adult (not counting the awful T my parents sent me to as a teenager) - I found my first T through my neurologist. I specifically asked if he knew anyone and he recommended two. I called the first one and we clicked. I saw him for 8 years. I moved across the country and found my next T as a referral from my pastor.

[velcro003]

I voted for 3 of the choices, as it was a mishmash for me. I searched the internet and psychology today for T's that were on my insurance list, but there weren't many. I contacted the few that I found and seemed to maybe be an ok fit for me/allowed me to e-mail because the thought of actually calling a stranger is really not my thing. One of the T's didn't have the availability I asked for, but she recommended my current T, and it worked out great so far.

[spring2014]

I found my therapist by going to my doctor and she referred me to the psychology department at the hospital. I went off on my own after she made the referral and I called my insurance carrier and they asked the city and state I live in and what I prefer a male or female therapist .I told them my city and zip code and I told them that I wanted a female therapist .I had bad luck with a male therapist cuz he was so incompetent w my case .




Diagnosis: Anxiety and depression
meds: Cymbalta 60 mgs at night
Vistrail 2 25 mgs daily for anxiety prn
50 mgs at night for insomnia with an additional 25 mgs=75 mgs when up past 1:00 in the morning

[UglyDucky]

Originally Posted by atisketatasket

A discussion on another thread got me wondering: how do most people find their therapist or psychiatrist?

I've found all of my current crew by professional referral. I found my first, very brief one that lasted 5-6 sessions decades ago by a personal referral. Of the three I saw once each, I initially found two in the phone book (go on, laugh; the internet wasn't my go-to place yet, plus AltaVista was the top search engine then) and one on Psychology Today.

The ones I'm interviewing next week are all professional referrals.

I am not interested in which method is best, just how people found them.

Professional referral from another PhD psychologist. He gave me a list of people he said were well trained and professional. I chose the first one on the list. It's been a good fit.

[YMIHere]

In the past I found them all by who took my insurance and was nearby. This time, due to the Sanity Score I had an idea of the kind of therapy I might need and I googled THAT near me. Came up with a counseling place and left a voicemail that I'd like to make an appointment. My therapist called me back and we set up an appointment. Honestly I couldn't have told you who it was with b/c I made it like a month in advance. He tried to call (My voicemail says please text b/c I rarely pick up my messages) and he texted me to ask if we were still on for our appointment.

First impression I didn't think we clicked exactly, but I've learned from experience, not to blow things off based on first impressions. He is the best therapist I have ever had. He does have an ad on Psychology Today and had I seen that, I MOST DEFINITELY would have chosen him. I feel VERY grateful that I got so lucky.

I stumbled upon mine on psychologytoday.com while I was researching the names my pdoc gave me - her profile caught my eye because it mentions dream work. She had that warm fuzzy look that I wanted in her profile picture so I called her and one of the ones my pdoc recommended, she called me back first, and I felt like we clicked on that initial phone call so she was the one I scheduled with and I haven't looked back since.
I feel so incredibly lucky to have found her like I did.

[Cinnamon_Stick]

My Ex-Pdoc referred me to my current therapist. I feel like I have struck gold with her.