When people are applying to graduate programs to be therapists, is there any sort of assessment or demonstration they have to provide that they have these qualities? Or some potential for developing them? When a person applies to grad school in math or english or science, etc., they have to provide some demonstration of achievement, aptitude, or potential in their field (more than just interest). Are the students accepted into grad school to become therapists the ones who score highest in "high verbal ability and processing power and an ear for the truth and a sense for people"?

I know that's off topic, but what jexa wrote seemed like a list of possible screening criteria for becoming a therapist. I have recently had contact with a number of grad students in clinical psychology at a university. (Some may intend to practice, some do research only, some do both.) In general, my perceived "quality" of the grad students was rather uneven. Several, in fact, seemed to have no great interpersonal skills or ability to connect with people beyond average. One guy was outstanding, and would definitely be high in everything on jexa's list. Maybe the others had good potential as researchers. I'm just not sure how these people are chosen. The guy I felt was outstanding told me he loves teaching so might want to stay in academia. No, no, I wanted to say. You need to get out there and practice! The world needs therapists like you! (He did say maybe he would do a mix.)