Bingo, Lucky Laser! You've described my doctor in a nutshell. All in all, there's a feeling of shared humanity that comes off a physician who's taken the Hippocratic oath to heart ... My own doc -- as rushed as he is (I can feel the expectations of the clock weighing on him sometimes), always makes genuine contact with me. He is kind and gentle and we have 20 years behind us now. His perspective is moderate and as holistic as he can make it within the constraints of time. He considers my opinions and perspectives; he never speaks down to me. He knows my history and respects its impact on me. He recently went through a bout with cancer ... was off for a year. He's been deeply marked by his experience and remains gentle and kind.

Thoughts re: a therapist...

First and most important to me: Is this person doing his own inner work? Part of a professional body; receiving regular supervision/mentoring? (I worked for 18 years in the social service/psychology field, and some of the most f***ed up people I've ever met are therapists/social workers...! On the other hand, I worked for several years with a mentor/therapist who was a true shaman...an elder...a healer. There are some genuine soul-doctors out there!)

What education ... clinical training ... certifications ... professional affiliations, etc., does this person have? (You might want to Google the person's name.)

How long in practice? Areas of specialty? Anything he won't work with? (A therapist must know and respect his clinical boundaries --> what he is qualified to deal with, and what he is not.)

What specific training/certification/professional experience does she have regarding your concern(s)?

Does he remind you of anyone else in your life? (Very important to consider!)

Fees: sliding scale? Forms of payment? Fee for an initial consult?

If after the initial consult you want to have a "trial" period of say, three sessions, is the therapist willing to do this? Willing to assess with you what's been happening and whether this is a good fit?

Paperwork? Does she take notes? Contracts? Documentation?

Confidentiality: essential to understand the therapist's policy and boundaries here. Under what conditions will/must he infringe on confidentiality? Who will he discuss your work with (i.e., supervision), and how will he refer to you?

Will he give you an overview of how he works --> methods, schools of thought (i.e., Gestalt, Jungian, cognitive-behvioural, bodywork, Buddhist, EMDR, etc.)

How does she generally view human beings/the human condition? (A great way to suss out essential beliefs and attitudes.)

How do you feel being in his office? Notice neatness/clutter, colours, sounds (and soundproofing), air quality/scents, comfort of furniture, art, etc. Is he sitting behind a desk?

Therapist's appearance, composure, and posture.

What life experience does this person share with your own --> i.e., PTSD? You have the right -- and the resposibility! -- to ask any questions you wish. How the therapist responds to your enquiries is very telling! (Someone who perpetually stonewalls genuine contact...throws back a question for every one of yours...babbles on about his/her own issues ad nauseum...gnaws on a pencil while s/he stares at you like you've got two heads...has one eyeball on the clock...RUN! )

I've had several therapists, and I consulted briefly with occasional others. The worst of them wanted me to call her "Mom" -- and pay her for it; the best were willing to plunge into some horrific waters with me and stay the course with integrity, grit, temperance, clarity and faith. Two people were genuinely willing to bond with me (and I with them). There were difficulties that arose with them -- as in any intimate relationship -- but they were willing to listen, learn, do their own work, and ultimately let me go when our time was finished. Both are retired now; I maintain contact with one and consider him my spiritual father.

Remember this: you are hiring this person to help you. You are, in effect, conducting a job interview. The last time I went in search of a therapist, I had a list of questions like the ones above, and asked them of each person. How they responded told me as much as what they told me. I interviewed five potentials this way and I learned so much during the process.

Remember this, too: you hire your therapist, and you can fire your therapist.

Ultimately, do your best to pay attention to your gut. What's your instinctive sense about this person, both during and after your time together?

Whew! This is an amazing thread...all the thoughts and experience offered here really got my mind blazing