Here are a few things you may wish to think about before settling on a therapist:

Shop around.  A seasoned therapist will respect your curiosity and a patient search for someone who 'feels right to you.'  So make a lot of calls and two or three initial visits just to see how it goes when you actually sit down together.  Let yourself notice what it feels like to talk together.  Respect those feelings.  You could ask yourself, "Am I comfortable with this person?  Do I trust this person?"

Choose a therapist who feels right for you. It is important for you to feel comfortable opening up to your therapist. In most cases the race, gender, sexual orientation, religion or other demographic of therapists is not an issue, but sometimes, preconceived notions or past life experiences can affect our ability to communicate comfortably with certain therapists. For example, a woman who has been sexually assaulted by a man may prefer speaking to a female therapist.

Confirm that your insurance covers the type of therapy you are seeking. Most insurance companies will cover visits with a clinical social worker, psychologist, psychiatrist or primary care physician but not with an unlicensed therapist.

Consider the type of treatment you need.  Psychologists and clinical social workers can offer you psychotherapy. However, only Nurse Practitioners, medical doctors and psychiatrists can prescribe medication in Massachusetts. If you think that you will need a medication evaluation, be sure to choose someone who is licensed to prescribe drugs.  Or ask your talking therapist for a referral.

Ensure that the therapist's licensing requirements are up to date. One useful place to look for licensed therapists is Psychology Today's Therapist Directory.   You may also look online at your state's boards of licensure.

Ask your friends or family. If any of your friends or family have ever consulted a therapist, ask them what their experiences were like. Did they like their therapist and was the treatment helpful? These people can be valuable sources of information when deciding on a therapist for yourself.

Ask questions. Before starting therapy you should ask your potential therapists questions relevant to the treatment: should you expect change with a short term treatment or more longer term?  What will be the cost of the treatment, and what happens if you feel progress has stopped.  Also ask your therapist about his areas of expertise and what his qualifications are. Ask if the therapist has a regular consultation arrangement with peers or a paid consultant.  How long have those relationships been in place?  Taking the time to ask all these questions can prove to be extremely helpful in finding the right therapist and can prevent you from entering into an uncomfortable situation. 

Be sure that your therapist creates an environment of respect in his/her sessions. If you feel uneasy talking to your therapist or don't feel respected, you are more than likely not consulting the right therapist. Think about finding someone else.

Do what it takes to make yourself feel comfortable. There is no shame in being a difficult customer. Remember you are the one paying for this treatment so you may as well be sure that you are satisfied with what you get.

Ensure that your therapist's moral values are similar to yours. A therapist's role is to guide your own exploration in the choices that you make. You are the one who lives with your decisions. What is important is the outcome of your sessions. If your therapist is successful in a collaborative consideration of the choices you make and their outcomes, then you have probably found a therapist that will satisfy your needs.  Advice is generally not particularly helpful in the long run.