The only sad part about this story is that is doesn't occur nearly enough. I wished more clients would call or email and interview me just like Sam did. Some therapists never even talk to clients before first interview. Someone else may do intake for them. If a therapist won't talk to you directly if you request it, take heed!

Besides valuable information from both stories, I want to give you clear guidelines on how to proceed with receiving right help from right professional.

First, you cannot beat a personal referral. In fact, % of my referrals are word-of-mouth. I was interviewed on a radio talk show at beginning of this year. From that one hour on air, several clients have found their way to me. So, Keep your eyes and ears open for professionals who are headlined on local news, radio and in newspaper.

Many of my clients both online and off have referred to me as a "friend" at some point in our work together. I cannot think of a better compliment. However, though I am a good guy and a good therapist, you certainly would not want to ask me for help if you have bulimia (an eating disorder). Why? I don't have any expertise in this area. Make sense? So make sure that person your going to consult with, online or off, has expertise in your area of need.

Certainly check that your potential helper is appropriately certified and/or licensed. Keep in mind that unless a psychiatrist has obtained training to provide psychotherapy, they DO NOT receive this as part of their medical training. As a rule of thumb, psychiatrists are trained in evaluation and medication.

So many of you are looking for professional consultation online today. There are several things to look for. There are beginning regulatory guidelines for those practicing on net. My site Overcoming Depression is an information and resource site only. However, if you were looking at site where I offer professional email consultation (CounselingPros.com) you would first note that there is a picture of me listed up top and right. Underneath that are my credentials and a link for you to verify them with state of Indiana Health Profession's Bureau. Scroll down and you will see my toll-free number where you can actually call to see if I'm a real person ;-) Some professionals also choose to list their snail mail address. For privacy issues (junk mail mostly) I do not do this. For an exhaustive resource on securing best online help I have written a book entitled, "The Online Counseling Consumer's Guide." It's on CounselingPros.com site, it's an e- book and it's free. Help yourself.

Remember, care you choose and receive is initially your responsibility. You deserve no less than best. Go out and get it!

Try to be aware of your thoughts. Calmly watch what is going in your mind, even if after a few moments you may forget to do that. The inner dialogue goes on even when physically you are engaged with something else. It is not so easy to mentally separate oneself from thoughts and words flow through mind.

Over and over again endeavor to keep your attention of what is going inside your head, and eventually you will be able to become aware of inner dialogue for longer times. Watching mind and what is going on inside it develops detachment. Detachment gives a better control of mind and its chatter.

Whenever you catch yourself conducting a useless, futile conversation with yourself, stop it. Change it to something more useful. Replace subject, and words. It is like running an audiotape. Why not replace it with another tape that you like? Why let this tape play by itself? Change words of inner dialogue to positive ones about good health, happiness and success.

There is another thing you can do, but this needs concentration and will power. You can try to stop this inner conversation altogether. Try to ignore it and give your mind a vacation. Let mind rest for a little while. Life can certainly go on, even when this dialogue is silenced. For a little while, enjoy some rest from mind's incessant conversation.

The inner dialogue is fine sometimes, but most of time it is just incessant useless chatter, which distract attention from what you are doing at each moment. By becoming aware of it, and replacing it with a positive one, or just refusing to become involved with it, you gain ability to control it.

Remez Sasson writes and teaches about spiritual growth, meditation, positive thinking, creative visualization and mind power, and issues a biweekly ezine, "Consciousness and Success". He is the author of two books, "Will power and Self-Discipline" and "Visualize and Achieve".