Success in therapy is as much about the client as it is about the therapist. Sure it's possible for a therapist to fail a client - it happens pretty often I'd think. It also happens that the client for whatever reason is not in a place where they are ready to make changes. Therapy is appropriate when clients have reached a tipping point and are ready to fully engage and make life changes. Like Ididitmyway wrote, therapy is going to be ineffective all he way around if a client hasn't reaches that point.

Paula, it's important to reflect on what exactly you hope to get out of therapy when deciding to enter into it. Getting bogged down on small details about emails or miscommunications says to me that you're not ready yet. When you know what you want, the focus of your search will shift to the overall fit as well as the Ts orientation, style, approach, etc...will be the focus of your search. Smaller personality differences and other minor details can be ironed out in session. You will be more flexible with these things when you know what it is therapy can do for you.