What to search for in a new therapist?

Izumi wrote:I remember that! Man, that's so messed up.
I gotta say, based on everything that you've told me about your T,
they've always rubbed me the wrong way.
I honestly think that your T is way more into makin' money than caring for her clients. (Yeah, yeah, I know, making money and a living is important, but I believe in her case it's trumping over her desire to help others.)
I also don't think she has a very good understanding,
or doesn't take you as seriously as she def should be.

Someone more familiar with DID would be ideal, if possible.

Reina, just know that you are da bomb.
If you're ever having problems or questioning your existence, I'm here for you.
I'll pull you back up, you are you, and you are real. Otherwise you're one awesome hallucination. lol
Seriously though, never doubt yourself, stand strong, and keep being the awesome woman you are.

1. Expertise in dissociative disorders. You can waste a lot of time working with someone who doesn't understand them. They could even make you worse. Affiliation with the ISST-D (International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation) is a good sign. You could also call different therapists and ask whether they know of anyone who is respected within the field of treating dissociative disorders, or who specializes in it. A personal recommendation can be a great way to find a therapist. The Sidran Institute also provides a referral service, if you contact their help desk, but they don't have any information on the therapists on their list, so it's hit-or-miss.
2. Someone who will respect your goals for therapy and not try to force their own views and goals onto you. You might describe it as someone who believes in patient empowerment. Some therapists view integration as the inevitable goal and view all dissociation as bad. They might even view your concerns about treatment as a symptom of the disorder (ie, if you disagree with their perspective on what it means to be "cured," then it's only because the disorder is distorting your view of things.) I strongly disagree with that outlook and would prefer a therapist who believes that they are there to help you live the life that you want to live, regardless of what that means to you. Even if they disagreed with you in a certain area, they would discuss the issue with you honestly, rather than trying to force you into something. I think the appropriate balance is to find a therapist who is results-driven and wants to see you make progress, but without forcing their own views onto you about what "progress" means.
3. A good connection. I guess the ideal would be someone that you would feel comfortable talking about anything with, especially the issues that you're traumatized about. The connection that you have with your therapist also affects things like the way the sessions flow, how much you get done during the allotted time, etc.
4. Availability. A willingness to communicate with you outside of sessions via e-mail or even over the phone is a good sign. Being able to send your therapist e-mails can really make it easier to relay information that you may have a hard time articulating during a session. It also shows that they care.
5. Cost. It would be very nice to have someone that you can afford. That means that they might be covered by your insurance, have affordable rates (if they're cash-only,) offer a sliding scale if you need it, etc.
6. Location. It's nice to have someone close to you, but if you're willing to commute, then to me, the location is not quite as important as the others.