your siggy says she's 17? At that age I'd get her involved in finding the counselor. She may have preferences that narrow down the field- perhaps she prefers one gender over the other, or an older or younger counselor etc. I will say at that age my mother thought she knew my preferences, and she was way off, i ended up with a counselor I could barely talk too. for me, gender was huge and my mother picked the wrong one, and clearly stated she thought it was my preference. I was too timid to correct her.
She may also know friends who are in counseling and may feel comfortable enough to get a recommendation from them. Or, if the old school counselor is available she could ask for a recommendation from her.
If its not a big inconvenience, perhaps you could find a few counselors, and let her pick from them. Some folks will even interview a few and then pick the one they feel most comfortable with- sort of "therapist shopping" if you will. Fit is really an individual thing- someone can come highly recommended, but still not be the right "fit" for you. It wouldn't hurt to try a few and pick one. Or to pick one, but tell her if she's uncomfortable you can try another.
You might also ask what she thinks would make a good counselor for her- even if it seems silly. For instance, I tend to do better with people who have pets- yes, it sounds silly, but it makes me more comfortable. She might have some "good" ideas too- perhaps someone who has experience with teens, or someone with a flexible policy on out of session contact (some therapists will not take phone calls beyond scheduling issues, others allow phone calls if necessary). Have her make a list, then ask about the items on her list when you call therapists. She can compare answers from several and get a better idea of who she might want to see.
