Often, the most effective way to find a good therapist is to talk to your friends. If you have friends who are in therapy with a therapist that they like, that therapist will often offer a recommendation of another therapist they know who is taking new clients.
However, if you don't know anyone currently in therapy, only have friends who are in therapy with therapists who they feel "meh" about, or don't feel safe asking the people you know for referrals, there are plenty of online resources to help you out. Psychology Today hosts a site called Find A Therapist, and the American Psychological Association maintains a similar Psychologist Locator site that can help you find a therapist who specializes in your preferred area. And if you have health insurance, there's also usually a mental health site or hotline where you can get referrals to therapists who take your insurance.
After you've found a few names that seem promising, Google them — whatever you find about them online, be it praise, bad reviews, or a really janky personal website, will be illuminating.
Call Your Prospective Therapists
Possibly the most intimidating part of the process is calling up all your potential therapists to make appointments for introductory appointments. So if this part feels difficult, don't beat yourself up — calling up a stranger and telling them that you need help can make us feel very vulnerable, and you should be proud of yourself for being able to take this step.
But the call can be more than just a chance to set up a one-on-one meeting — if the therapist schedules their own appointments, it also gives you your first chance to see how you feel about your potential therapist. When it comes to selecting a therapist, your gut instinct is queen, and if your phone conversation leaves you feeling like you just can't connect to this person, don't feel like you have to pursue an in-person meeting with them.
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