Any success with therapy?

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BACKSTORY:
So i have already gotten the AS diagnosis. The therapist who diagnosed me said that she definitely recommended therapy/group therapy for me to be able to sort out my angst, learn coping skills, and better understand and navigate through relationships. However, she said that she didn't know anyone in the area who could help and i would have to research it myself.

So anyway, that was like 2 years ago. I have come a long way on my own since then, but I do believe that I need some intervention. I've done a lot of reading on gestalt and transactional analysis and i like those methods a lot. I'm trying to look up therapists who specialize in aspergers because I don't want to waste time and money on some silly "by the books" character who's going to speak to me like i'm a child and tell me stuff I already know, but I also don't want to end up with someone who is used to lower functioning folks and might question if i really have AS. I am quick witted, kind of snarky, very skeptical and very clever... I need someone who can challenge me. I've been to a couple therapists for other reasons in the past and after just one session, I couldn't go back because they were way too squishy and gushy, if that makes any sense.


MY QUESTION IS:
has anyone had success with finding a therapist who "gets it"? is it really just a matter of trying a bunch of different ones until someone 'clicks'? or are there certain things I should look for in terms of experience or approaches to therapy? maybe specific questions i can ask them over email before actually meeting with them to get an idea if they can 'get' me?

I recommend an action-oriented therapist who can help you deal with your angst and hold you accountable for learning skills and taking steps forward in your life instead of someone who constantly asks about feelings and tries to make all your life events seem like happy fluffy bunny rainbows.

I simply used google with the following: autism & therapist & my location. I quickly found one a few minutes from my house. Though I do live in Los Angeles, so there are many therapists. I would enter the nearest city for my location if you live in a small town that doesn't have any.

btbnnyr: I like "action-oriented" and the notion of being held accountable. That sounds about right. I think I am going to email a few potential choices that I have found and mention those ideas as a part my "this is what I'm looking for" statement. I still need to gather a few more ideas, but I'm thinking being direct and specific in what I need will automatically clue them into what they would be dealing with and help them decided if they really think they can help.

pcuser: I do live in a large area of with plenty of options and have no issues finding folks on google... the question is, which to pick? Loads of them claim to help those with aspergers/autism, but my experience has shown that a lot of them lack the proper understanding to 'get me' and understand my needs and how to help - they all ask the same stale questions about feelings and give me the same generic information that i can read on any online self-help website. Are you happy with who you found? Did you have to blindly try many before finding a good fit? Are there any specific methods or concepts that you have found helpful that I might be able to look for in a therapist to see if that may benefit me?

This is my first one and I find her helpful. She seems to know a great deal about autism. You can call and interview befor choosing one.

Yes I think it's mostly trial-and-error. Naturally it makes sense to reject those who don't have a good understanding of ASD and whatever else you may have. And you might have a preference for a particular style which you could look for - such as nondirective therapy. I think emailing is a good way of finding out a bit about the therapist's quality, you can tell a lot by the quality of their answers to questions.

I've not personally dealt with a therapist who particularly gets me, though I was with most of them before I was diagnosed. I noticed one or two who were too dogmatic and incompetent. I've sat in on some sessions between my partner and her therapist, who seems fairly good, though possibly a little too reluctant to offer an unpalatable opinion.

In my case I have not found one that I'm completely satisfied with. My biggest problem has been cancelled appointments or not showing up. Two of them however would fall a sleep during session. Good Luck!