These are among the major potential positive benefits of therapy. They make up one way of describing the _ideal outcomes_ of therapy. They are one side of the coin; the other side consists of the many negative feelings and ways of behaving that are {37} eliminated when they are _displaced_ by these positive personality qualities. The negatives that make up such a familiar part of "normal" life include these: * fears that stand in the way of desired goals * anxiety and depression that cripple normal living * low self-esteem, resentment, and hostility that poison the formation and development of satisfying relationships * incapacity to deal with stress, and dependence on alcohol, drugs, or other means to reduce anxiety * inability to accept yourself, your family, or your present place in the world--which often leads to bitterness, withdrawal, and even the cultivation of fantasies that further isolate * confusion, disorientation, and perhaps even physical signs of poor health, as a result of emotions that have assumed a magnitude that can no longer be held in check by tired defenses We tend to think of these as the usual reasons for entering therapy. But, again, the positive qualities we have described are attracting clients increasingly to therapy. Whether you need to eliminate emotional pain or are fortunate to be comparatively untroubled but are searching for certain positive qualities of perspective and character that you believe will bring increased satisfaction to your living, therapy may offer what you are seeking. WHAT MAKES A GOOD THERAPIST? According to several studies, certain qualities in therapists are associated with effective therapy. The kind of person who is able to help others bring about important life changes has these qualities: * the ability to understand the client's feelings and life world * heightened sensitivity to the client's feelings and attitudes so that the therapist frequently is able to uncover significant aspects of the client's outlook and personality of which the client would probably remain unaware {38} * warmth of interest in the client's well-being, without emotional overinvolvement * psychological maturity, characterized by self-acceptance, genuineness, and congruence * a sense of acceptance toward the client: a nonjudgmental, noncritical, positive regard for the client, his separateness, and individuality * an attitude, conveyed by the therapist's behavior and approach, that encourages positive change, independence, and freely made choices and decisions, and implicitly discourages the formation of long-term dependence of the client on the therapist These studies also identified several attitudes that clients, regardless of the orientation of their therapists, felt were especially _counterproductive_ in some therapists: * lack of interest * remoteness or distance * excessive sympathy