Angela, my social worker, used cognitive behavioral therapy to help me gain perspective. She didn’t stare at the clock waiting for sessions to end, and often held me back a couple of minutes to compare wedding dresses and engagement rings. I left sessions wondering if it would be a breach of ethics to text her the minutiae of my day just because I knew she understood me. Your therapist doesn’t need to be your best friend, of course, but you should be comfortable with that person, and with sharing your thoughts and feelings. If you’re not, look for someone else.

Treat your first appointment like a date.

No one goes on a first date without checking the other person’s Facebook profile. The same applies to choosing a therapist. Before making your first call, look at a therapist’s online presence on Yelp-like databases like Vitals, ZocDoc and Healthgrades. Watch out for cookie-cutter positive comments like “Good therapist,” or an overwhelming number of four- or five-star reviews.

It’s promising if comments are detailed, said Michelle Katz, a nurse, health care advocate and author of “Healthcare for Less.” So rather than, “Good therapist,” a far more telling review would be: “I had Blue Cross and this therapist really spent the time with me and worked with my insurance. Even when it ran out, they still filled out the rebuttal form and worked with me to ensure insurance covered it for X amount of sessions.” Bonus points if a quick search leads you to any research papers, discoveries in the field, recent workshops or accolades.

Take negative reviews with a grain of salt, Ms. Katz said. Look at the patterns of the person writing the review. It’s a red flag if they’ve written only complaints. Generally, therapists who take the time to respond to comments care about their practice and reputation, Ms. Katz said.

Get the therapist on the phone for a few minutes and ask what he or she enjoys most about counseling. Ask what school the therapist attended, ensuring proper accreditation as opposed to an online certificate. Ask about specialties, noting how comfortable the response is when you share your issue. Ask about licenses and look them up to be sure the therapist hasn’t incurred any infractions (this information is available at state licensing boards like this one in Pennsylvania). Finally, has the therapist ever attended therapy? “Do not get into therapy with someone who hasn’t done her own work,” Ms. Katz said.

“Treat it like a date. You know the difference between nerves and ‘Oh, this is not good,’” Ms. Katz said.

Look for affordable options.

According to a recent survey by the nonprofit Mental Health America, 56 percent of the 40 million Americans suffering from mental health issues do not seek treatment primarily because of insufficient insurance and high costs. But that doesn’t need to be the case.