When we moved from Connecticut to California over a year ago, I had to end therapy with the therapist I had there. (I really liked her, but figured 3,000 miles was too far to go for an appointment.) I still had some issues to be worked out, so a few weeks ago I faced the fact that I needed to find a therapist in the area.

I started, as I usually do, by asking my psychiatrist if he could recommend a good therapist, but he surprised me by telling me that he didn't know anyone he could recommend,...