PERSONAL
CHARACTERISTICS OF
EFFECTIVE
COUNSELORS
Effective therapists have an identity
They know who they are,
what they are capable of
becoming, what they want
out of life, and what is
essential
Effective therapists respect and appreciate
themselves
They can give and receive help and
love of of their own sense of self-
worth and strength. They feel
adequate with others and allow
others to feel powerful with them
Effective therapists are open to change
They exhibit a willingness and courage to
leave the security of the known if they
are not satisfied with the way they are.
They make decisions about how they
would like to change, and they work
toward becoming the person they want
to become
Effective therapists make choices that are life
oriented
They are aware of early decisions they
made about themselves, others, and the
world. They are not the victims of these
early decisions, and they are willing to
revise them if necessary. They are
committed to living fully rather that
setting for mere existence.
Effective therapists are authentic, sincere, and
honest
They do not hide behind
masks, defenses, sterile
roles, or facades
Effective therapists have a sense of humor
They are able to put the events
of life in prespective. They have
not forgotten how to laugh,
especially at their own
shortcomings and contradictions.
Effective therapists makes mistakes and are
willing to admit them
They do not dismiss
their errors lightly, yet
they do not choose to
dwell on misery
Effective therapists are generally live in the
present
They are not riveted to the past,
nor are they fixated on the
future. They are able to
experience and be present
others in the now.
Effective therapists appreciate the influence
of culture
They are aware of the ways in which their
own culture affects them, and they
respect the diversity of values espoused
by other cultures. They are also
sentsitive to the uniques differences
arising out of social class, race, sexual
orientation, and gender.
Effective therapists have a sincere interest in
the welfare of others
This concern is based on
respect, care, trust, and
a real valuing of others.
Effective therapists possess effective
interpersonal skills
They are capable of entering the
world of others without getting
lost in this world, and they strive
to create collaborative
relatioships with others.
Effective therapists become deeply involved
in their work and derive meaning from it
They can accpt the rewards
flowing from their work,
yet they are not slaves to
their work
Effective therapists are passionate
They have the courage to
pursue their passions, and
they are passionate about life
and their work
Effective therapists are able to maintain
healthy boundaries
Although they strive to be fully present
for their clients, they don’t carry the
problems of their clients around with
them during leisure hours. They know
how to say no, which anables them to
maintain balance in their lives
