I just love therapy. I savor all its varieties—physical therapy, music therapy, sports therapy, whatever—but psychotherapy is my favorite. My inner life, not to mention my career, is built on a foundation of headshrinking premises and techniques. That's why I'm always surprised to find out how little most people know about being "therapized." Some seem to assume that it's reserved for the total whack-jobs who eat sod and perform strip routines at the DMV. Others are once burned, twice shy—they've bravely gone for help, had a terrible experience, and given up on therapy altogether.

If you're in either category, you might want to reconsider. Good psychotherapy is one of the best things you can do to improve your experience on planet Earth. There have been times when it has literally saved my life. Nowadays, I put it in the same category as chocolate: I could live without it, but since it boosts serotonin production and makes things more fun, why should I? This article is meant to help you figure out whether you might benefit from therapy as much as I do. And if the answer is yes, it will also provide some guidelines on how to choose a therapist who can meet your needs.

• Do you need shrinking? Read Martha's words of wisdom, plus take this test!
• Finding Mr. or Ms. Right—what you need to know on your therapist search.