I don't think it's necessary for a T to have experienced all the problems I want to work on in order to be effective. But I have found it enriching and helpful that my T has gone through some of what I have wanted to work on. Also, it seems good modeling to me, that I can look up to someone who went through certain things and handled them with grace and health or at least came out "healthy" on the other side (this was a big worry of mine, that I would be "destroyed" by passing through challenging life events). I think it would be impossible for a client to find a T who was an exact "match" to themselves in terms of life experiences, and I didn't look for this, and don't think it necessary. One of my big therapy issues was to get through a failing marriage, divorce, etc. I didn't know my T was divorced when I first went to see him, but later it emerged and it turned out to be a positive. He is a bit older than I am and has been through some of the same events that occur in this life stage, like marriage/divorce/remarriage, taking care of elderly parents, experiencing the death of a parent, etc. All of these things have been helpful to me. When he was younger, he had more clients with experiences that were "younger." It is like his interests in helping people have followed his own maturation through life stages. When he was younger, he worked much more with youth, young adults, etc. I would find it hard to get therapy from someone 20+ years younger than I am just because they haven't passed through the same life stages. They just don't have the same "seasoning" and insights.

I don't have a bias against therapists with only a master's degree. I think as long as they have worked on their "stuff" and done their own healing, it will not negatively impact therapy or me.

I also tend to agree with stopdog--I also have an advanced degree so perhaps that is why I don't see them as any big deal. If you want to work like a dog for 5-10 years, you can get your PhD.