Following on from the other thread "signs of a bad therapist" I always like to hear the good and bad.
I believe there are as many good as as many bad ts.
For me personally a good t genuinely cares about the welfare of their clients, it's not just a job to them. Thy are honest about their abilities as a t and they are willing and open to change should a client request it.
They will have good awareness if their own triggers, vulnerabilities and their shadow sides. They should never intentionally do any harm.
What are the signs of a good t for you?

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[UnderRugSwept]

Consistency. And the ability to admit when they have made a mistake.

[brillskep]

I would also add: knowing how to listen, having a good and nuanced sense of ethics, healthy boundaries (flexible, neither rigid nor loose). Continuing training and supervision or peer supervision throughout their career. Taking care of themselves well so they can then help clients. Being able to provide feedback and reflection as needed without intruding, labeling, giving advice or overwhelming the client. Many more, but just giving a few ideas off the top of my head. I also agree with your ideas, Monalisasmiles and Elsewhere, though I personally think a therapist also needs to know when to change based on the client's feedback and when it might be more helpful to just be there and consistent. Betraying one's values isn't helpful or a good idea, in my opinion, but I agree that it's very important to take clients'feedback seriously and work together towards change for the better.

[RedSun]

This is a good thread idea MonaLisa!

For me, good boundaries and timekeeping
Empathy and acceptance
Well trained and well read, but also flexible and not rigid in modality
Enough self disclosure to be a real human, but able to clearly keep themselves and their issues out of the therapy
And, for me, a pleasant and well kept therapy space is v important!

[Out There]

Good thread and pretty much all of the above for me , congruence and continued self development and self appraisal.

Discernment -- the ability to have insight about what an individual client needs in terms of approach at a given time (which requires a variety of approaches in their "toolbox" rather than only one approach)

AND

Skill--the ability to actually utilize the right approach effectively when needed

[Tearinyourhand]

great thread! for me signs of a good therapist are pretty much the things others have stated. I like the idea that everyone's needs are different and good therapists embrace that. an individualized multi-modality approach to treatment has been really helpful for me.

[magno11789]

For me signs of a good therapist are what everyone else has said. I think communication is key for me. Especially if there is a rupture or misunderstanding communication is key for a good therapist.

[Cinnamon_Stick]

The signs of a good therapist are:

Good boundaries
Caring about your well being
Listen without judgement
Making sessions and the therapy room safe
Provide feedback
Is ethical
Consistency
Admitting when they are wrong or have made a mistake
Having your best interest at heart
Respecting you and your choices

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[NowhereUSA]

Oh I'm so glad this thread was created!!

Signs of a good therapist:

- Clear boundaries
- Professional attitude
- Time management skills

Signs of an excellent therapist:

- The ability to very deftly walk the line between being too rigid in boundaries and too relaxed.
- The ability to redirect in a way that demonstrates skill.

The latter two I've observed in my own T. I didn't go in expecting much past some person to sit across from me while I struggled through my depression. Sometimes I want to have a card that scores him in his ability to very deftly steer things "10/10, you nailed the landing. GREAT JOB". Haha. I'm weird.

[nervous puppy]

Ditto on what many have already posted!

Knowing their own limits. Mine knows what she can and cannot help with and will say so.

Wanted to add: (for me, at least)

Strong ability to handle a crisis situation with a client

I agree with all of the above and Lolagrace you have reminded me of something that really is important to me, the fact that a t wont panic and over react in a crisis. That would help me to feel safe in session. I have seen too many ts panic and I am going to start shouting "DO NOT PANIC" when I sense them wobbling and overeacting.

Bustle

Originally Posted by monalisasmile

Bustle

Cute article. (I'll add the request that people actually read the article and not just the large print because the large print is not an explanation or detail. People are notorious anymore for reading the large print and assuming they know what the explanation actually is when they haven't actually done the reading. Sorry, pet peeve that I can see playing out if people don't actually read what this article is saying.)

I'd say it is pretty spot on with much that we tend to discuss here on PC.

[NowhereUSA]

Not panicking in a crisis is so important. I really appreciated that my T's first response wasn't to pack me up and send me to the hospital. In fact, it wasn't until last year (after six years of working with him) that he decided I needed to go in.

I still remember calling him at the office and asking him if he thought I needed to be there - he was extremely compassionate. He said that his fear at the moment was that he knew I could get myself out of there (I had gone in voluntarily to avoid a hold). I learned how to mask it and then eventually compartmentalizing it was a way of life for me. People very rarely realize how severely depressed I am (well, was - now I have the depression treated so it's in remission). So, I asked him if he thought I needed to be there. He paused and then just answered a simple "Yes."

It was a difficult period but he later told me there were many times he let me walk out and he wasn't sure if he was doing the right thing.

I'm grateful he was able to differentiate between "Not yet..." and "Now."

I don't easily trust people but he's earned my respect for his skills in this area.

[NowhereUSA]

Originally Posted by monalisasmile

Bustle

Okay. I laughed!! I love it.

I personally (my opinion) don't think there are any good therapists based on my experience. I do think some might be less damaging than others. I think good, firm boundaries that do not change would be nice. I would like to have a discussion on termination and how that would happen or what might cause it. I would like to know that from the beginning.

I really think it's a messed up profession but I do understand that some people believe it helps them and that's great for them.

Originally Posted by puzzle_bug1987

I personally (my opinion) don't think there are any good therapists based on my experience. I do think some might be less damaging than others. I think good, firm boundaries that do not change would be nice. I would like to have a discussion on termination and how that would happen or what might cause it. I would like to know that from the beginning.
I really think it's a messed up profession but I do understand that some people believe it helps them and that's great for them.

I know that therapy has some terribly incompetent and harmful people practicing. But I also know there are excellent therapists out there. I don't just believe it, I know it. . . just as you know, from your experience that there aren't any good ones. I don't question your knowing. I accept it as the truth for you due to what you have experienced.

Originally Posted by puzzle_bug1987

I really think it's a messed up profession but I do understand that some people believe it helps them and that's great for them.

I more than "believe" it helps me. It absolutely DID help me. I KNOW that, just as you know your own personal experience with therapy was harmful. I don't in any way doubt that your experience was real and I know you more than just "believe" therapy was harmful to you; it WAS harmful to you. I would hope you could respect that those of us that have had very positive outcomes from our own therapy also KNOW our experience was quite real and not just an illusion/"belief".

Originally Posted by Jaybird57

I know that therapy has some terribly incompetent and harmful people practicing. But I also know there are excellent therapists out there. I don't just believe it, I know it. . . just as you know, from your experience that there aren't any good ones. I don't question your knowing. I accept it as the truth for you due to what you have experienced.

If you think that more power to you, but I don't believe it at all. I know there aren't. LOL. I thought I had one for several years and he abandoned me. I just don't trust any of them even the "excellent" ones. THey can all "go bad" in an instant.

I used to be a supporter of therapy. I used to "believe" in it. I used to defend it. I used to tell people to trust in their therapists. I was right there with so many people here and then I got really hurt and damaged. I have seen it happen to SO many people here over the years. I can usually tell who it will happen to next. It's a sick profession.

A lot of people claim therapy helps them, but they have so much angst within the therapy relationship that they can't even seem to see how much harm that can end up doing. It's scary.

Originally Posted by Jaybird57

I know that therapy has some terribly incompetent and harmful people practicing. But I also know there are excellent therapists out there. I don't just believe it, I know it. . . just as you know, from your experience that there aren't any good ones. I don't question your knowing. I accept it as the truth for you due to what you have experienced.

You and I were posting almost exactly the same thing at the same time.

I am glad that this is a safe place for us to voice our opinions about our good and bad experiences of therapy. I think it's important to be able to voice our concerns no matter if they are positive or negative, it's our experience and ours only. No one can say it's wrong or right, it just is.
About the article, I had forgotten about the awful corny therapy language.... It's a pet hate of mine and I have seen trainees taking down notes on what out tutor has said but that's their voice and their expressions, it's important for me anyway that a t is sincere in what they are saying and how they say it.

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Originally Posted by monalisasmile

I am glad that this is a safe place for us to voice our opinions about our good and bad experiences of therapy. I think it's important to be able to voice our concerns no matter if they are positive or negative, it's our experience and ours only. No one can say it's wrong or right, it just is.
About the article, I had forgotten about the awful corny therapy language.... It's a pet hate of mine and I have seen trainees taking down notes on what out tutor has said but that's their voice and their expressions, it's important for me anyway that a t is sincere in what they are saying and how they say it.

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I agree. It is important for people to state their opinion about their own therapy as their own therapy experience rather than to invalidate other people's experiences in therapy as somehow unreal or not valid because their own opinion is apparently the truth for everyone.

[magicalprince]

Originally Posted by Elsewhere

Consistency.

Agree 1000%. Consistency is really the most important part.