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13 Qualities to Look for in an Effective Psychotherapist
By: Susan Krauss Whitbourne Ph.D.
1. Possession of a sophisticated set of interpersonal skills.
What this means for you: When you talk about what you're experiencing, does your therapist seem to be interested in learning about how you feel? Can your therapist communicate to you in language that you understand? Does your therapist talk about you, rather than him or herself?
2. Ability to help you feel you can trust the therapist.
What this means for you: What do your inner vibes tell you when you first meet this person? Is this someone who allows you to feel that you can have a good working relationship and that your faith in this person won't be betrayed? It's true that the ethical code of psychologists includes the proviso that revelation of illegal or dangerous intention must be reported to authorities such as the police or social service agencies. However, even this requirement can help you feel that you can trust the therapist, because you know that you and the others you care about will be protected.
3. Willingness to establish an alliance with you.
What this means for you: Do have the sense that your therapist is interested in getting you on board by establishing goals that both of you agree on? Though the therapist is obviously the expert, do you feel that the therapist cares about your goals in therapy and is willing to work with you to set goals that both of you agree on?
4. Ability to provides an explanation of your symptoms and can adapt this explanation as circumstances change.
What this means for you: Do you understand what the therapist says about the possible contributors to your symptoms? The explanation needn't be (and probably shouldn't be) "scientific;" it should be an explanation that is grounded in your own sense of who you are and why you're feeling the way you do. You should also feel that the therapist is willing to be flexible if circumstances change or new information about your symptoms becomes apparent over the course of treatment.
5. Commitment to developing a consistent and acceptable treatment plan.
What this means for you: Is your therapist sharing with you his or her plans for what type of therapy you'll be receiving? You should not feel unsure about what's happening or why. Unless you know what the treatment plan is, you run the risk of not complying with the therapist's recommendations because you won't know why they are important.
6. Communication of confidence about the course of therapy.
What this means for you: If you sense that your therapist is in control- not of you but of the course of therapy- you will be more likely to be able to make progress. Uncertainty about whether therapists know what they're doing can undermine the course of treatment. Obviously, if you're unhappy with something about the way that therapy is proceeding, you should be able to bring this up. However, a good therapist makes you feel that, like the insurance commercial states, you're in "good hands."
7. Attention to the progress of therapy and communication of this interest to the client.
What this means for you: Given the reality of treatment in managed care settings, it's increasingly difficult for therapy to proceed for long periods of time. Even if you're not receiving treatment under this condition, you know your therapist is effective when he or she checks in with you to see how you feel about the treatment you're getting. This doesn't mean that you need to show progress at every session, but it does mean that your therapist shows concern for you by checking in with you to see how you feel things are working, or not, as the case may be.
8. Flexibility in adapting treatment to the particular client's characteristics.
What this means for you: If you feel that your therapist is following a set of rules and isn't responding to your specific concerns, it's important for you to express these feelings. Be specific about what is and is not working for you. In some cases, your discomfort may be related to the phase of treatment that you're in. Nevertheless, it's important to let your voice be heard.
9. Inspiration of hope and optimism about your chances of improvement.
What this means for you: A good therapist will inspire you to think that you can get better. However, you may know from your own past experiences, perhaps those you've had with previous therapists, that your symptoms may come back again. Still, it's better to approach therapy with optimism than with pessimism and if your therapist inspires you to feel hopeful, you'll benefit more from treatment.
10. Sensitivity toward your cultural background.
What this means for you: It should go without saying that an effective therapist does not make offensive comments about your gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion, or cultural background. However, therapists might not be aware of specific prohibitions or traditions that are an important part of your life. If this happens, explain why you find this to be the case. It's possible that your therapist simply is unaware of this situation, and will appreciate gaining this knowledge.
11. Possession of self-insight.
What this means for you: If you find that your therapist brings up his or her own problems when you talk about yours, and you feel this is overstepping the line on self-disclosure, bring this up as a concern. The unconscious can play interesting tricks on all of us, including therapists, but the best ones are able to control their reactions even if those come close to experiences that hav affected them.
12. Reliance on the best research evidence.
What this means for you: There are many sources of information available now to clients to evaluate the treatment they are receiving. Although it's usually not advisable for clients to insist that their therapists try out new and untested methods that they read about online, it is still a good idea to check out reputable websites to ensure that you're getting the latest, empirically tested, treatments and ask your therapist about them.
13. Involvement in continued training and education.
What this means for you: As long as your therapist has a current license, you can be assured that he or she is acquiring relevant educational and training experiences. You can use your state association website to ensure that your therapist's license is being maintained and also check to see if there are any irregularities in his or her record.
Summing it up:
The outcome of therapy depends on many factors, but psychotherapy researchers have evidence to show that these 13 qualities in a therapist play a key role in increasing the odds of a successful outcome. Therapy can occur in many types of situations, ranging from marital counseling to employee assistance. Each therapist may not meet each of these 13 criteria, but as long as you are aware of them all, you can decide whether you or a loved one are getting the best possible treatment.
Reference:
Whitbourne, S. (2001) 13 Qualities to Look for in an Effective Psychotherapist