Therapists can be tricky. It's like dating almost. Good ones can be hard to come by or hard to get into see. If the person you're seeing right now doesn't end up working out, you can always try someone else.
Oh WORD. I've been telling one of my friends about this recently as he searches for a therapist- there should be a connection there like when you meet someone and you don't even have to try to be friends, it just happens. My advice to my friend was that in your first session (which many do for free to see if you two can work together) is to come prepared with your own list of questions! Things about the way they approach therapy, their own values, questions you have that you'd eventually like to discuss- it's an interview on both ends!
I also say if you don't feel like you're clicking with a therapist, don't waste your time and money. Read their bios, look at their pictures (not shallow, it's really important actually to see their pic to get a feel of who they are). And if you don't feel uncomfortable or they feel too clinical in that first free intake session then don't come back! They won't be offended. Actually, they'll be glad if not seeing them means seeing someone else who can actually help you. You should feel like you're talking to an actual human being! Not somebody checking off boxes on a list. Ask them questions about their approach, try to get a sense of their values.
I completely agree- psych wards are prisons and are a complete joke. They don't help you, they just stabilize you when you're having a particularly rough breakdown and then once that's over they discharge you. I fucking hate psychiatrists honestly- they're so clinical, the whole visit is like "feel like killing yourself lately? well either way take these pills." Psychiatrists tend to know so little about their patients while therapists actually get to know you, therapists and social workers are the ONLY people in mental health care I trust.
I don't think the issues in mental health care stem from lack of resources and I'm so sick of people acting like that's the answer. The entire approach to mental heath care is wrong.