A study of therapists' choice of a therapist

Twenty-three psychotherapists discussed the criteria that they used when seeking a therapist for themselves. Most of the subjects had had more than one experience with psychotherapy. They sought a therapist who had a reputation for competence, whom they would not encounter frequently outside of therapy sessions, whom they experienced as warm and caring, and who talked rather than remaining silent during the sessions. The significance of these findings for conducting psychotherapy is discussed.