I would add something different here, in that I think that interdependence is what should be taught in life. Sole independence can cause isolation and lack of trust when taken to the extreme, and of course dependence can cause the opposite. For me a healthy balance is when we are taught to develop inner resources holistically, yet interact and learn from others. Also any therapy that emphasises one domain and denies the holistic context of human beings needs to come with a footnote of caution and a thorough explanation of its strengths and limitations. In similar vein I think that counsellors should have their own personal development plan which may or may not involve therapy but does involve personal growth an essential "telling detail" of a good therapist (add to list in article) is that the client goes away from the initial contact or meeting with the feeling of getting more back than they were required to give. Those initial contacts require disclosure and re-experiencing the problem to some degree. My requirement for myself is to listen with discernment and care, communicate at least one true thing with certainty and, based on that, offer hope. I would advise everyone not to neglect Item 14. And I would encourage anyone who was treated in an unprofessional manner by a therapist to report it to the appropriate advisory boards. It will make you feel better and it can really make a difference for other people who are considering using this therapist. From