There is no straightforward procedure for finding out whether a therapist is proficient in what s/he does or not. Whereas a therapist’s academic and professional accreditations and permits may be in order, they may not warrant their success in serving clients. This, however, does not underscore the need for a therapist to have proper training and be licensed. A therapist also needs to belong to a professional body as this is a pointer to whether s/he follows the professional ethics and principles. These bodies can also give background information on the therapist. Apart from academic and professional affiliation, there are personal qualities that a good therapist needs to possess.
Since therapy is a personalized service, a good therapist should develop rapport with the client during the duration of the therapeutic process. Camaraderie enhances empathy in the course of therapy. Heart ensures a balanced exchange in the interaction and discussion between the therapist and the client. They should focus on me and my tribulations, share when desirable, be client-centered, and listen attentively. Once a suitable bond or a professional working relationship is in place, I will be able to obtain the desired outcome from my therapy in the shortest time possible. With such an atmosphere in the therapy sessions, it is no doubt that feelings of being vulnerable, embarrassed, or abused will fade away.
The therapist should view the problem from my angle, i.e., they should be in my shoes so that he can understand my situation. They should also consult me in the designing of the session schedule. The session schedule should be consistent as this will contribute significantly to my sense of security, knowing that the therapist is committed to serving me. The way they design the schedule should be geared towards achieving the desired outcome in the most reasonable time possible.
I would also prefer a person who regards confidentiality highly. The therapist should not share the information gathered in our conversations during a therapy session. However, the therapist should use his judgment skills not to withhold vital information such as that I am contemplating harming myself. A competent therapist should leave me with a sense of consolation and self-confidence as an individual by using their therapeutic expertise and talent. This will make me begin to have a sense of hope and encouragement when the therapy session is over.
A therapist’s character, mindset, values, and ideals are more important than their particular modus operandi, method, or theoretical point of view in facilitating the success of therapy. These lay the framework upon which the whole therapeutic process is conducted. They determine the direction the process will take, allowing the therapist to take contingent measures as dictated by the uniqueness of each case.
The need to be a counselor can be motivated by various issues. Choosing a career path in counseling could be to the personal needs. A career path selected due to one’s own needs will be aided or hindered by the same.
The desire to become a counselor can be motivated by the need to earn a living. The condition to make a living affects how one conducts the counseling sessions—the need to achieve a living dictates how fees are charged. The counselor must charge prices that motivate him and covers his running costs. Motivation from monetary gains aids the counselor in the conduct of his work and thus delivers promising results to the client. On the other hand, if the counselor becomes money-oriented, he may charge higher fees or short design sessions which do not deliver value to clients.
One can also become a counselor due to having natural gifts for helping people. Some people are naturally gifted and may need to become counselors to exploit their talents and help troubled individuals. Having such abilities helps the counselor to be able to conduct counseling naturally. In addition, such counselors do their work with passion which is advantageous to the clients. However, if such counselors are not adequately trained, they may miss out on some professional ethics in the conduct of their practices.
One may also be motivated to become a counselor due to personal experiences in his life. Victims of rape, bomb blasts, landmines, civil war, domestic violence, terminal illnesses, and decrease sometimes become counselors. Such counselors are well versed in their area of specialization and are willing to help people undergoing similar situations. They understand their clients’ needs and thus can guide them to recovery and achieve the desired outcomes. However, such counselors might be objective as they use their personal experiences, whereas their client’s needs are unique. What might have worked for the counselor might not work for everybody.
From the preceding reflection, therapy is a personalized service; thus, the client has to choose a therapist with whom they are comfortable. It has also come out that no matter what is the motivation for one to become a counselor, their efforts should be geared toward achieving the clients’ desired outcome in the most practical way.