If you’re seeking therapy or know someone who is, learning what is and is not effective in counseling can help you with your search. When looking for a mental health professional — especially for the first time — it’s not that strange to wonder: “What do I even look for?” With so many types of counseling services and counselors, knowing where to start isn’t exactly intuitive. Plus, it can feel overwhelming to find a counselor if you’re in the midst of a difficult experience or having symptoms of a mental health condition. If you’re seeking counseling, it can help to know what makes a good therapist and how to make the most of your sessions. Many mental health conditions and concerns benefit from specific therapies. For instance, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a highly effective talk therapy for depression and anxiety disorders. But a therapist’s expertise in certain therapy types isn’t the only thing that makes counseling effective. After all, anyone can benefit from counseling. Another key factor in counseling’s effectiveness — perhaps the most important one — is the relationship between client and clinician. If your therapist is skilled in CBT, they may know exactly how to help you reframe unhelpful thought patterns and change behaviors. But if they don’t know how to gain your trust and genuinely connect with you, your sessions will be much less effective. In fact, a 2018 article from the American Psychological Association’s (APA) journal, Psychotherapy, outlines how the therapy relationship is critical for making improvements in therapy. It’s important that the therapist-client relationship is based on collaboration — where both therapist and client are equal partners in the therapy process. This means that together, you and your therapist come up with goals and expectations for your treatment so you remain on the same page. Overarching goals might include everything from setting boundaries to finding a new job to reducing your alcohol intake or managing depression symptoms. An effective therapy relationship also includes resolving issues that arise. As in any relationship, you’ll run into disagreements in therapy — sometimes called therapy ruptures. Research in 2018 suggests that resolving these ruptures can lead to better outcomes for you. A “good” counselor is a mental health professional who supports you in making progress in your life and goals, whether that’s helping you overcome fears or improving your sense of self. According to an APA article on continuing education, there are various qualities that can set a counselor a part from others to create better outcomes in therapy. These characteristics include:
A mental health professional can be a good counselor for one person — but not a good fit for someone else. At its core, therapy is about a genuine connection between you and your therapist. When trying to figure out whether a counselor is good for you, consider asking:
Therapy is going to benefit you the most when you’re an active participant in your treatment. So, you might find therapy more effective when you:
Some of these things can be hard from time to time. That doesn’t mean you’re a “bad” client, unmotivated, or that there’s anything wrong with you. You likely have a good reason for why you’re not making as much progress as you would like, such as: If you find yourself getting stuck in therapy, consider exploring why. When you can name what’s standing in your way, you can address it and move forward. That might mean talking with your therapist about changing your goals or finding a different therapist that’s a better match for you. Just because one therapist is not right for you, it does not mean another one won’t be a good fit. Either way, try to be honest with yourself and your therapist. This is not easy, but even taking the smallest step toward expressing what’s going on can lead to tremendous growth. Being vulnerable with people you don’t know, at least initially, may seem awkward and even overwhelming. But group therapy can be a positive, transformative experience. In group therapy, you can:
But like in one-on-one therapy, not all groups are created equal. As in any meaningful, fulfilling relationship, trust and unity are essential ingredients of effective group therapy. In psychology, this is called “group cohesion.” Group cohesion occurs when:
Effective counseling is built on a strong relationship with your therapist. This can take time. A good counselor will be empathetic, tailor treatments to your needs, and foster collaboration. Together, you come up with goals and expectations for therapy. A good therapist will also not judge you or cross your boundaries. However, sometimes a good counselor just isn’t a good counselor for you. If you sense your therapist isn’t a match, try to pinpoint why. In some cases, talking it over with them can help to resolve any miscommunication or challenges. In other cases, you may just want to move on and find a different counselor to work with. If you’re looking for mental health support, but you’re not sure where to start, you can check out Psych Central’s Find Help page. Carrie Steckl earned her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology with a Minor in Gerontology from Indiana University – Bloomington in 2001. She has spent over ...Read More According to experts in mental health practice, who the therapist is as a person is one of the most important variables influencing the success or failure of therapy. In other words, the therapist’s personal qualities mean just as much – if not more – than his or her professional skills. What do you think about that? It makes me think of the medical profession. Certainly, there are doctors who have both personal finesse and exceptional skills. But we can all think of a doctor in our past (or present) who might be the brightest physician in his or her field but whose bedside manner makes us want to run for the hills. The same is probably true of mental health practitioners. Personal qualities are important in addition to professional skills. If you are seeking a therapist, it can be helpful to ponder what personal qualities you value in this kind of provider. Here are some characteristics that research has shown are important:
Which of these qualities do you value in a therapist? What characteristics would you add to the list? Please share your thoughts. Source: Corey, M. S., Corey, G., & Corey, C. (2014). Groups: Process and practice (9th ed.). Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole. Keep Reading By Author Carrie Steckl, Ph.D. Read In Order Of Posting |