Finding the right therapist is essential to improving your mental and emotional state. In order to make sure you end up with the ideal therapist, you should determine what you are looking for from a therapist, gather referrals from people you trust and research the therapists' treatment styles, history and credentials. In addition, be prepared to meet with more than one therapist to ensure you find the right fit for your needs and personality.

As you start your search for a therapist, you need to define what kind of therapist you want to see.

1. Psychiatrists are medical doctors who are able to prescribe medicine to help you with your mental state. They are often also trained in psychotherapy, which tries to affect change by altering thought patterns.
2. Psychologists have doctorates but cannot prescibe drugs. Psychologists most commonly treat their patients via cognitive behavioral therapy, which tries to help patients identify and then change damaging and/or negative perceptions about themselves and the world.
3. Social Workers generally provide counseling on interpersonal and emotional problems in a managed care environment. They tend to focus on relationships and helping patients learn to function within their environment.
4. Licensed Professional Counselors must have Master's Degrees and several thousand clinical hours in order to become licensed or certified to diagnose and treat a myriad of mental and emotional issues.http://www.webmd.com/anxiety-panic/guide/how-to-find-therapist

You might also want to think a little more about why you are seeking therapy. This can help you narrow down the type of therapist you should be looking for. Common reasons to enter therapy include:

1. Depression
2. Marital strife
3. Drug and/or alcohol addiction
4. Self-esteem issues
5. Suicidal thoughts
6. Difficulties dealing with stress

Once you have decided what type of therapist you want to see, you can begin to ask people for referrals. Because mental health treatment can be a sensitive issue, you should approach only people you trust and whom trust you.

1. Start with family members that you know might have had counseling.
2. Approach friends who you know have sought mental health treatment.
   1. Try not to approach anyone in a group setting as it may make them more reluctant to share their experiences.
3. Visit professional organization websites such as the American Psychological Associationhttp://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&ct=res&cd=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.apa.org%2F&ei=7HODSqDBGpP-tQPA95mWBw&usg=AFQjCNGEqGtWi_Ve6tBCgdcnZX488vksZA&sig2=m2fQAXfP8QNw9aVhEImvzw to find credentialed therapists in your area.

Once you have gotten referrals and then narrowed them down, do a little more in-depth research on each of your potential therapists.

1. Verify that the therapist has the qualifying credentials for the type of therapy he or she practices.
2. Check online sites that review services such as therapy to see if your potential therapist is listed, and if so, what other patients' opinions of him or her are.
3. Find out what health insurance the therapist accepts, or if they don't accept it, inquire about the potential cost of long-term treatment.

In order to get the most out of therapy, you must connect with your therapist, meaning you need to be able to trust him or her and feel comfortable with the therapist's treatment method. Sometimes, even after all your research, you might not click with the first therapist you see. If it doesn't feel right after a couple of sessions, try the next therapist on your list. This does not mean shopping for someone to tell you what you want to hear, it simply means looking for the best mental and emotional fit.