finding therapist through word-of-mouth

I am looking for a therapist at the moment... mostly online... and I have asked one friend, who recommended her therapist. She sounds great, but then I read (on metanoia.org) that it is bad to go to the same therapist as your friends/family because you consciously and subconsciously need the relationship to be very private and separate from other people.....

any thoughts?

I really need a sliding scale therapist, so my choices are limited (and this therapist is).
If I go to a subsidized clinic, they assign you a therapist.. not sure how much choice you have in the matter.

Thanks!