experience therapists have addressing a particular issue, concern, or problem area, the more expertise they have developed. 9. Does the counselor make guarantees or promises? It's important for a therapist to provide hope but not absolute unconditional guarantees. If you have the will to change and put in the necessary time and energy, healing is possible. Most of our wounds and defenses are the result of what has happened to us and to those around us. Healing can happen quickly in psychotherapy , but only after getting safely through the layers of protective gate keepers, which understandably can take a long time. So, although everyone is capable of healing, changes can take years to happen for some people; unfortunately, because time is limited, some may never achieve the level of healing they desire in this lifetime. In addition, people are not always at a time and place in their growth where they are ready to heal, and a given therapist may not be the right person to help them. Overall, there are numerous factors at play in the therapy process that may contribute to or interfere with healing; we are conscious of some of these factors, and others we are not aware of. And so, there are no guarantees without conditions. More information is available here: " Sometimes We Can't Help. " 10. Does your counselor adhere to ethical principles in regard to issues such as boundaries, dual relationships , and confidentiality? There are numerous ethical guidelines designed to keep