An effective psychotherapist or counsellor:

• Knows how to build rapport quickly with distressed people
• Understands depression and how to lift it
• Helps immediately with anxiety problems including trauma or fear related symptoms
• Is prepared to give advice if needed or asked for
• Will not use jargon or 'psychobabble' or tell you that counselling or psychotherapy has to be 'painful'
• Will not dwell unduly on the past
• Will be supportive when difficult feelings emerge, but will not encourage people to get emotional beyond the normal need to 'let go' of any bottled up feelings
• May assist you to develop your social skills so that your needs for affection, friendship, pleasure, intimacy, connection to the wider community etc. can be better fulfilled
• Will help you to draw and build on your own resources (which may prove greater than you thought)
• Will be considerate of the effects of counselling on the people close to you
• May teach you to relax deeply
• May help you think about your problems in new and more empowering ways
• Uses a wide range of techniques as appropriate
• May ask you to do things between sessions
• Will take as few sessions as possible
• Will increase your self confidence and independence and make sure you feel better after every consultation.