What Makes a Good Therapist?
One of the first questions I ask new clients is if they have ever been in therapy before. If they have, it is tremendously helpful to know what was helpful for them in the past, and what wasn’t; what they liked about their previous therapist or therapists, and what they didn’t.
Most of the answers wouldn’t shock you. People like therapists who care, who are human; who know what they are doing, or at least seem to; who are direct, but not too confrontational. On the other hand, consumers of psychotherapy don’t like if therapists seem detached, if they are abrasive or angry, and certainly not if they fall asleep.
What is interesting is when I hear conflicting reviews about the same therapist: “I couldn’t stand him”, and then, “He was great, exactly what I needed”. “She knew exactly what I was going through and was able to help”, contrasted with,”She didn’t really seem to get it”. Certainly, there is a great deal of subjectivity in therapist reviews. There is also the matter of “goodness-of-fit” between therapist and client.
What have your experiences been? What has your therapist done that works for you? Have there been things which you did not like? If so, did you say anything to your therapist about it?
You may comment anonymously or using just your first name, and there’s no need to mention your therapist’s name either. Hit the comments!