Do the research up front.  Don't be shy about reaching out to reviewers who have been with the provider you are considering.  I get PMs all the time and am happy to respond.  I also feel somewhat more free to be candid since my response isn't public.  

I've spent $1k on 1 hour sessions with providers and been dissapointed (thinking damn...I could have gotten a new iPad instead of waste my time on that...lol).  It's always a little like gambling.  Hang in there, you'll hit it big on a table....and then the good news is you get to keep going back to the same table if you want