I think there are both subjective and objective measures of what makes a good therapist.

I am of the opinion that good training and a lot of experience gives one a good place to start. It certainly helped me to have the confidence that my case was nothing new to my therapist, he had seen it before, and knew what treatment plans worked and those that did not given his particular methods. I did not want to be a test case for him.

Now that's not to say that is always the case. In fact, a lot depends, I think, on the person in therapy. WE contribute the bulk of the work in therapy and it may also depend our willingness to really get in there and work. The therapist can be, after all, IMO just a facilliator, coach and guide through our recovery.

Sort of "when the student is ready, the master will appear" type thing.

It's all about finding the right therapist for us. And that, is a good, if not the best therapist there is out there.