{"formatVersion":"1.1","id":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/library/what-do-you-value-in-a-therapist","path":"/library/what-do-you-value-in-a-therapist","url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/library/what-do-you-value-in-a-therapist","title":"What to Look for in a Therapist","family":"Library detail","description":"What to Look for in a Therapist. Explore this topic in the MentalHealth.com resource library.","language":"en-US","access":{"audience":"public","indexable":true},"provenance":{"sourceUrl":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/library/what-do-you-value-in-a-therapist","wordpressId":"5963","contentCompleteness":"complete","dateScope":"original-source"},"authors":[{"@type":"Person","@id":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/people/carrie-steckl#person","name":"Carrie Steckl, Ph.D.","url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/people/carrie-steckl"}],"dates":{"datePublished":"2014-06-17T04:00:00Z","dateModified":"2025-08-27T11:37:13Z"},"content":{"html":"<nav aria-label=\"Breadcrumb\" class=\"breadcrumbs\"><ol><li><a href=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/\">Home</a></li><li><a href=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/library\">Library</a></li><li><a href=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/library/therapy\">Therapy</a></li><li><span aria-current=\"page\">What to Look for in a Therapist</span></li></ol></nav><div class=\"article-page article-standard\" data-library-standard=\"\"><div class=\"article-main-grid\"><header class=\"article-heading\"><h1>What to Look for in a Therapist</h1><p class=\"article-inline-credits\"><span class=\"credit-row\">Written by <a class=\"article-credit-person\" href=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/people/carrie-steckl\">Carrie Steckl, Ph.D.</a></span></p><div class=\"article-dates\"><span>Published on <time datetime=\"2014-06-17T04:00:00Z\">June 17, 2014</time></span><span aria-hidden=\"true\"> · </span><span>Updated on <time datetime=\"2025-08-27T11:37:13Z\">August 27, 2025</time></span></div></header><div class=\"article-jumpbar\"></div><div class=\"article-layout\"><div class=\"article-reading\"><article class=\"prose\" id=\"article-content\"><p>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.</p><figure class=\"article-feature\"><img alt=\"A woman discusses her concerns with a healthcare professional.\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"600\" loading=\"eager\" src=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/assets/optimized/a4c5b85d8cbf7662e69ac226.webp\" width=\"1200\" srcset=\"/assets/responsive/b2903a137ac0339f5a0b23fa.webp 800w, /assets/optimized/a4c5b85d8cbf7662e69ac226.webp 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 1200px\"></figure><section aria-labelledby=\"key-takeaways\" class=\"article-takeaways\"><h2 id=\"key-takeaways\">Key takeaways</h2><ul><li>A therapist’s personal qualities can influence the therapeutic relationship alongside professional skills.</li><li>Attentiveness, genuine care, openness, and willingness to acknowledge mistakes can support trust.</li><li>Cultural awareness and a nondefensive response to feedback help create a more responsive treatment relationship.</li></ul></section><h2 id=\"overview\">The person behind the professional role</h2><p>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. </p><p>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.</p><h2 id=\"qualities-to-consider-in-a-therapist\">Qualities to consider in a therapist</h2><p>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:</p><ul class=\"doc\"> <li class=\"doc\"><strong>Courage</strong> – Therapists need to be vulnerable at times, admitting their mistakes and imperfections and being willing to take the same risks they would expect clients to take.</li> <li class=\"doc\"><strong>Willingness to model new behaviors</strong> – Therapists teach largely by example.</li> <li class=\"doc\"><strong>Presence</strong> – Therapists should not being distracted, but instead be fully attentive to what is going on in the moment with their clients.</li> <li class=\"doc\"><strong>Goodwill, genuineness, and caring</strong> – Having a sincere interest in the welfare of others is essential to being an effective therapist.</li> <li class=\"doc\"><strong>Belief in the <a href=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/library/understanding-navigating-therapy\" class=\"article-inline-link\" data-context-link=\"358\">therapy process</a></strong> – Therapists need to believe in what they are doing in order to facilitate meaningful change.</li> <li class=\"doc\"><strong>Openness</strong> – Therapists must be willing to reveal enough of themselves to give clients a sense of who they are as a person.</li> <li class=\"doc\"><strong>Nondefensiveness</strong> – Therapists should be frank and nondefensive when faced with criticism from clients. Otherwise, clients may receive the message that openness and honesty are not really valued in the <a href=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/library/the-importance-of-the-relationship-in-counseling-and-psychotherapy\" class=\"article-inline-link\" data-context-link=\"355\">therapeutic relationship</a>.</li> <li class=\"doc\"><strong>Cultural awareness</strong> – Therapists need to be aware of the cultural issues that may impact the therapeutic relationship.</li> </ul><aside class=\"article-support\" data-article-therapist=\"what-do-you-value-in-a-therapist\" aria-label=\"Find support that fits you\"><div><h2>Find support that fits you</h2><p>Explore people and care options near you.</p></div><a href=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/therapists?session=Individual\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Find care</a></aside><h2 id=\"reflecting-on-what-matters-to-you\">Reflecting on what matters to you</h2><p>Which of these qualities do you value in a therapist? What characteristics would you add to the list? Please share your thoughts.</p><p>Source:</p><p>Corey, M. S., Corey, G., &amp; Corey, C. (2014). Groups: Process and practice (9th ed.). Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole.</p><section aria-label=\"Subject matter expert\" class=\"article-expert article-expert-inline\" data-expert-kind=\"related\" data-expert-layout=\"standard\"><p class=\"article-bio-role\">Subject matter expert</p><div class=\"article-expert-identity\"><a href=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/people/carlos-protzel\" class=\"card-identity-photo\" aria-label=\"Carlos Protzel  Psy.D.\"><img alt=\"\" height=\"64\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/assets/optimized/8e1ee0ec187d4c3ff0be4ad3.jpg\" width=\"64\" decoding=\"async\"></a><h2><a href=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/people/carlos-protzel\">Carlos Protzel <span class=\"expert-credentials\">Psy.D.</span></a></h2></div><p class=\"article-expert-focus\">Evidence-based and humanistic therapies</p><a href=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/people/carlos-protzel\" class=\"quiet-button\">View profile</a></section></article><div class=\"article-endmatter\"><section class=\"article-about article-panel\"><h2 id=\"about-mentalhealth-com\">About MentalHealth.com</h2><p>MentalHealth.com helps people understand themselves, build healthier relationships, and access the right care. We bring together mental health education, diagnostics, and care management to support well-being throughout every phase of life.</p><div class=\"article-contributors\"><section class=\"article-bio\"><a href=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/people/carrie-steckl\" class=\"card-identity-photo\" aria-label=\"Carrie Steckl, Ph.D.\"><img alt=\"\" height=\"64\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/assets/optimized/4343dfa2dec7e9f187121260.jpg\" width=\"64\" decoding=\"async\"></a><div><p class=\"article-bio-role\">Author</p><h3 id=\"carrie-steckl-ph-d\"><a href=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/people/carrie-steckl\">Carrie Steckl, Ph.D.</a></h3><p class=\"article-bio-credentials\">Ph.D.</p><p>Carrie Steckl, Ph.D. is a writer with experience as a non-profit professional, college instructor, mental health clinician, and Alzheimer's advocate.</p><dl><div><dt>Published</dt><dd><time datetime=\"2014-06-17T04:00:00Z\">June 17, 2014</time></dd></div><div><dt>Updated</dt><dd><time datetime=\"2025-08-27T11:37:13Z\">August 27, 2025</time></dd></div></dl></div></section></div></section><section aria-label=\"Related community\" class=\"article-topic-community article-topic-community-end\"><a href=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/community/therapy\" class=\"card-identity-photo\" aria-label=\"Therapy\"><img alt=\"\" class=\"topic-community-banner\" height=\"630\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/assets/optimized/7066dca658a7cda8fb3a8af1.webp\" width=\"1200\" decoding=\"async\" srcset=\"/assets/responsive/8fa373e4dbfae455b2a06735.webp 800w, /assets/optimized/7066dca658a7cda8fb3a8af1.webp 1200w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 961px) 236px, calc(100vw - 80px)\"></a><p class=\"topic-community-label\">Related community</p><h2><a href=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/community/therapy\">Therapy</a></h2><p>Explore approaches to therapy, the therapeutic relationship, and experiences of seeking support.</p></section></div></div><aside aria-label=\"Article navigation and related information\" class=\"article-sidebar\" data-bounded-rail=\"\" tabindex=\"0\"><details class=\"article-contents\" data-expanded=\"false\" data-scrolled-past=\"false\" data-section-preview=\"3\" open=\"\"><summary><strong>Table of contents</strong><span aria-hidden=\"true\"></span><small data-current-section=\"\">Choose a section</small></summary><nav aria-label=\"Article contents\"><ol id=\"article-section-list\"><li><a href=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/library/what-do-you-value-in-a-therapist#overview\" aria-label=\"The person behind the professional role\" title=\"The person behind the professional role\">The person behind the professional role</a></li><li><a href=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/library/what-do-you-value-in-a-therapist#qualities-to-consider-in-a-therapist\" aria-label=\"Qualities to consider in a therapist\" title=\"Qualities to consider in a therapist\">Qualities to consider in a therapist</a></li><li><a href=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/library/what-do-you-value-in-a-therapist#reflecting-on-what-matters-to-you\" aria-label=\"Reflecting on what matters to you\" title=\"Reflecting on what matters to you\">Reflecting on what matters to you</a></li></ol><button aria-controls=\"article-section-list\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"article-sections-toggle\" data-sections-toggle=\"\" hidden=\"\" type=\"button\">View more</button></nav></details></aside></div></div></div>","text":"Home Library Therapy What to Look for in a Therapist What to Look for in a Therapist Written by Carrie Steckl, Ph.D. Published on June 17, 2014 · Updated on August 27, 2025 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. Key takeaways A therapist’s personal qualities can influence the therapeutic relationship alongside professional skills. Attentiveness, genuine care, openness, and willingness to acknowledge mistakes can support trust. Cultural awareness and a nondefensive response to feedback help create a more responsive treatment relationship. The person behind the professional role 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. Qualities to consider in a therapist 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: Courage – Therapists need to be vulnerable at times, admitting their mistakes and imperfections and being willing to take the same risks they would expect clients to take. Willingness to model new behaviors – Therapists teach largely by example. Presence – Therapists should not being distracted, but instead be fully attentive to what is going on in the moment with their clients. Goodwill, genuineness, and caring – Having a sincere interest in the welfare of others is essential to being an effective therapist. Belief in the therapy process – Therapists need to believe in what they are doing in order to facilitate meaningful change. Openness – Therapists must be willing to reveal enough of themselves to give clients a sense of who they are as a person. Nondefensiveness – Therapists should be frank and nondefensive when faced with criticism from clients. Otherwise, clients may receive the message that openness and honesty are not really valued in the therapeutic relationship. Cultural awareness – Therapists need to be aware of the cultural issues that may impact the therapeutic relationship. Find support that fits you Explore people and care options near you. Find careReflecting on what matters to you 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. Subject matter expert Carlos Protzel Psy.D. Evidence-based and humanistic therapies View profile About MentalHealth.com MentalHealth.com helps people understand themselves, build healthier relationships, and access the right care. We bring together mental health education, diagnostics, and care management to support well-being throughout every phase of life. Author Carrie Steckl, Ph.D. Ph.D. Carrie Steckl, Ph.D. is a writer with experience as a non-profit professional, college instructor, mental health clinician, and Alzheimer's advocate. Published June 17, 2014 Updated August 27, 2025 Related community Therapy Explore approaches to therapy, the therapeutic relationship, and experiences of seeking support. Table of contentsChoose a section The person behind the professional role Qualities to consider in a therapist Reflecting on what matters to you View more","wordCount":603},"schema":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/#organization","name":"MentalHealth.com","url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/","publishingPrinciples":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/publishing/editorial-policy"},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/#website","url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/","name":"MentalHealth.com","inLanguage":"en-US","publisher":{"@id":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/#organization"}},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/library/what-do-you-value-in-a-therapist#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Library","item":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/library"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Therapy","item":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/library/therapy"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":4,"name":"What to Look for in a Therapist","item":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/library/what-do-you-value-in-a-therapist"}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/library/what-do-you-value-in-a-therapist#primaryimage","url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/assets/optimized/a4c5b85d8cbf7662e69ac226.webp","contentUrl":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/assets/optimized/a4c5b85d8cbf7662e69ac226.webp","width":1200,"height":600,"encodingFormat":"image/webp","caption":"A woman discusses her concerns with a healthcare professional."},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/people/carrie-steckl#person","name":"Carrie Steckl, Ph.D.","url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/people/carrie-steckl","jobTitle":"Ph.D.","image":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/assets/optimized/4343dfa2dec7e9f187121260.jpg","sameAs":["https://www.linkedin.com/in/carriesteckl/"],"memberOf":[{"@id":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/publishing#department"}]},{"@type":"Article","@id":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/library/what-do-you-value-in-a-therapist#article","url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/library/what-do-you-value-in-a-therapist","headline":"What to Look for in a Therapist","description":"What to Look for in a Therapist. Explore this topic in the MentalHealth.com resource library.","wordCount":440,"mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/library/what-do-you-value-in-a-therapist#webpage"},"publisher":{"@id":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/#organization"},"articleSection":"Therapy","inLanguage":"en-US","author":[{"@id":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/people/carrie-steckl#person"}],"image":{"@id":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/library/what-do-you-value-in-a-therapist#primaryimage"},"about":{"@type":"Thing","@id":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/library/therapy#topic","name":"Therapy"},"citation":[],"datePublished":"2014-06-17T04:00:00Z","dateModified":"2025-08-27T11:37:13Z"},{"@type":"MedicalWebPage","@id":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/library/what-do-you-value-in-a-therapist#webpage","url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/library/what-do-you-value-in-a-therapist","name":"What to Look for in a Therapist","description":"What to Look for in a Therapist. Explore this topic in the MentalHealth.com resource library.","inLanguage":"en-US","isPartOf":{"@id":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/library/therapy#webpage"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/library/what-do-you-value-in-a-therapist#breadcrumb"},"mainEntity":{"@id":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/library/what-do-you-value-in-a-therapist#article"},"relatedLink":["https://www.mentalhealth.com/library/therapist-client-relationship","https://www.mentalhealth.com/library/the-importance-of-the-relationship-in-counseling-and-psychotherapy","https://www.mentalhealth.com/library/anger-management-treatment","https://www.mentalhealth.com/library/tired-or-bored-when-your-therapist-yawns","https://www.mentalhealth.com/library/dialectical-behavior-therapy","https://www.mentalhealth.com/people/carlos-protzel"],"publisher":{"@id":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/#organization"},"medicalAudience":{"@type":"MedicalAudience","audienceType":"General public"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/library/what-do-you-value-in-a-therapist#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/library/what-do-you-value-in-a-therapist#primaryimage"},"about":{"@type":"Thing","@id":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/library/therapy#topic","name":"Therapy"},"citation":[],"datePublished":"2014-06-17T04:00:00Z","dateModified":"2025-08-27T11:37:13Z"}]},"representations":{"html":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/library/what-do-you-value-in-a-therapist","json":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/data/library/what-do-you-value-in-a-therapist.json","jsonLd":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/data/library/what-do-you-value-in-a-therapist.ld.json"},"$schema":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/data/page.schema.json","images":[{"url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/assets/optimized/a4c5b85d8cbf7662e69ac226.webp","alt":"A woman discusses her concerns with a healthcare professional.","width":1200,"height":600},{"url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/assets/optimized/8e1ee0ec187d4c3ff0be4ad3.jpg","alt":"","width":64,"height":64},{"url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/assets/optimized/4343dfa2dec7e9f187121260.jpg","alt":"","width":64,"height":64},{"url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/assets/optimized/7066dca658a7cda8fb3a8af1.webp","alt":"","width":1200,"height":630}],"sections":[{"id":"key-takeaways","title":"Key takeaways","level":2,"url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/library/what-do-you-value-in-a-therapist#key-takeaways"},{"id":"overview","title":"The person behind the professional role","level":2,"url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/library/what-do-you-value-in-a-therapist#overview"},{"id":"qualities-to-consider-in-a-therapist","title":"Qualities to consider in a therapist","level":2,"url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/library/what-do-you-value-in-a-therapist#qualities-to-consider-in-a-therapist"},{"id":"reflecting-on-what-matters-to-you","title":"Reflecting on what matters to you","level":2,"url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/library/what-do-you-value-in-a-therapist#reflecting-on-what-matters-to-you"}],"references":[],"relatedReading":[],"links":[{"url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/","label":"Home"},{"url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/library","label":"Library"},{"url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/library/therapy","label":"Therapy"},{"url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/people/carrie-steckl","label":"Carrie Steckl, Ph.D."},{"url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/library/understanding-navigating-therapy","label":"therapy process"},{"url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/library/the-importance-of-the-relationship-in-counseling-and-psychotherapy","label":"therapeutic relationship"},{"url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/therapists?session=Individual","label":"Find care"},{"url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/people/carlos-protzel","label":""},{"url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/people/carlos-protzel","label":"Carlos Protzel Psy.D."},{"url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/people/carlos-protzel","label":"View profile"},{"url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/people/carrie-steckl","label":""},{"url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/people/carrie-steckl","label":"Carrie Steckl, Ph.D."},{"url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/community/therapy","label":""},{"url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/community/therapy","label":"Therapy"},{"url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/library/what-do-you-value-in-a-therapist#overview","label":"The person behind the professional role"},{"url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/library/what-do-you-value-in-a-therapist#qualities-to-consider-in-a-therapist","label":"Qualities to consider in a therapist"},{"url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/library/what-do-you-value-in-a-therapist#reflecting-on-what-matters-to-you","label":"Reflecting on what matters to you"}],"seo":{"title":"What to Look for in a Therapist","description":"What to Look for in a Therapist. Explore this topic in the MentalHealth.com resource library.","canonical":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/library/what-do-you-value-in-a-therapist","robots":"index,follow","socialImage":{"url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/assets/optimized/ec9b0cb47c0207d45e88634d.png","width":1200,"height":630,"alt":"MentalHealth.com — Library","type":"image/png","sitemapGroup":"library"}},"breadcrumbs":[{"name":"Home","url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/"},{"name":"Library","url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/library"},{"name":"Therapy","url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/library/therapy"},{"name":"What to Look for in a Therapist","url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/library/what-do-you-value-in-a-therapist"}],"subjectMatterExpert":{"name":"Carlos Protzel, Psy.D.","url":"/people/carlos-protzel","profileId":"13151","topic":"therapy","focus":"Evidence-based and humanistic therapies","selectionBasis":"Documented expertise in the existing published profile","reviewAttribution":false},"keyTakeaways":["A therapist’s personal qualities can influence the therapeutic relationship alongside professional skills.","Attentiveness, genuine care, openness, and willingness to acknowledge mistakes can support trust.","Cultural awareness and a nondefensive response to feedback help create a more responsive treatment relationship."],"navigation":[{"label":"The person behind the professional role","href":"#overview","heading":"The person behind the professional role"},{"label":"Qualities to consider in a therapist","href":"#qualities-to-consider-in-a-therapist","heading":"Qualities to consider in a therapist"},{"label":"Reflecting on what matters to you","href":"#reflecting-on-what-matters-to-you","heading":"Reflecting on what matters to you"}],"relatedCommunity":{"community":"/community/therapy","basis":"topic match"},"reviewer":null,"introduction":null,"collections":[]}