Others have family or friends who can help. They may be afraid of damaging a relationship or that their problems will become the subject of gossip. Counselors and psychotherapists are professionals whose relationship with the client is strictly limited by clinical, legal, and ethical considerations, and who are bound to maintain the confidentiality of everything the client discloses. In this case, you will probably want to make your decision primarily on the basis of the counselor's credentials and specialties . If you are looking for help with a longer-term problem, such as a recurring harmful pattern in your life, you should proceed more deliberately.
Many people put more thought and effort into choosing a car than into choosing a psychotherapist.
The psychotherapist's technical style, which you can assess in a brief initial session. Most important of all is your own response to the psychotherapist, which may not become fully evident for several sessions. Lastly, you need to consider what the psychotherapist's services will cost and how they will be paid for. Remember that your choice is not irrevocable. A psychotherapist is a hired consultant, not a member of your family, and can be fired or laid off whenever you choose.