Any tips on picking a shrink?

[QuimReaper]

My life is a total mess and I really need some help. I'm a bit overwhelmed with local options and want to find someone to help me think out some quite specific issues. Any tips on narrowing it down? I think I'm going to try and line up some introductory calls with some that jump out at me, just to get a feel for the chemistry, but wondered if anyone had any pointers on what to look out for.

You will be paying premium prices for a medical opinion. Psychiatrists (with rare exceptions who specialise in psychotherapy) diagnose and treat mental illness.
Maybe a counsellor or a psychologist if you want to talk things through. Or even a life coach?

I agree, a psychiatrist is more the medical side of it and will be priced accordingly. Try looking at psychotherapists if you just want to talk.

A lot of it is down to natural chemistry. I thunk you just have to narrow it down to a few that ate qualified and experienced in what you need and then just meet them and see who you click with.

I didn't realise 'shrink' was specifically medical, I thought it was just slang for the general area! I don't have medical issues, just a quandary.

If you have a specific thing you want to change about the way you think, feel or behave then you could consider remedial hypnosis - it's solution focused and generally takes 3 sessions to complete.

Yeah a shrink is specifically a psychiatrist. I think what you would be referring to is a counsellor or psychotherapist. Probably a counsellor more than a psychotherapist as PTs work mostly with disorders. Counselling Directory is a good place to start looking.