For context, I (23M) live in the United States. In Ohio. A bit concerned about privacy because of the whole Nazi problem and the fact that I live in an abusive household.
I’ve been working on myself a lot recently and realized that I can’t do this alone anymore (or rely on Internet strangers to talk about my issues). I feel like I finally have the strength to ask for help in the real world. I’ve just never done this before. What’s it like? Is it warm and fuzzy, or cold and analytical? (Does it feel like someone is providing care and comfort, or is it more like an emotionally detached scientist meticulously studying you and scribbling down notes while mumbling “Hmm, I see, I see” while you yap at them?) Do you start to see results right away, or are things slow at first? How much stuff is recorded in a database that other systems can look up?
I think my only advice is don’t be afraid to go with your gut when picking someone, even if it feels judgmental or irrational. This is one of the things in life where your own comfort is paramount as a starting point.
Feel more comfortable talking to a man, or to a woman? Go with that. Do you get a weird vibe you can’t explain from someone? Go with that and look for someone else.
It’s also OK to look for another one if you don’t like the first one. Just make sure the reason isn’t because they’re making you confront difficult things. That’s the whole point.
Good luck, and I hope you get some positive things from it. It’s not easy, and it can be uncomfortable, but I personally have gotten a lot of clarity from it. Remember that only you can change you, though. All the therapist can do is reveal your patterns to you and give you coping strategies.