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IIdeally,
you will have been referred by someone you know
and trust to the person or people you are interviewing as your
potential counselor or therapist. If this is the case, and in
particular if the person who referred you has been in therapy
with the potential counselor or therapist, then you have some
indication that they are probably competent. However, even with
such trusted referrals there are far too many horror stories
of one kind or another.
 Competence is a much debated topic, particularly
with respect to whether or not it can be measured. Most states
have licensing laws for all therapists, but just because a counselor
or therapist has passed a test is no guarantee that they are
competent or ethical. Such tests, however, are all we have at
the moment, in addition to the therapist or counselor's reputation
within the community where he or she practices.
When choosing a therapist, you may choose to call
your local or state licensing board and ask if the prospective
counselor or therapist has had any complaints lodged against
them. Depending on the state, you may or may not be given the
information. There are also local counseling referral resources
in many communities, usually staffed by volunteer therapists
of the local counseling or psychological association. Often,
these local organizations or societies attempt to police themselves
and steer referrals away from therapists who have developed
a reputation of incompetence.
One last word about competence: Just because you
have been referred to someone who has the reputation in your
community as being the "therapist's therapist" doesn't
necessarily mean you will be happy with that individual. Don't
be afraid to follow your instincts.
Finally, while it's true that certain degrees
must be achieved and internships completed as part of the numerous
hurdles a therapist must scale on his or her way to becoming
a competent professional, one other element of experience is
a must: the therapist's own psychotherapy!
In my opinion, if an individual has not participated in his
or her medium to long term intensive psychotherapy or psychoanalysis,
their ability to practice has been compromised.
Even if they are not going to practice that type
of therapy that they received, I believe they should have some
type of therapy anyway. There is no question that we all have
blind spots -- for example, trouble distinguishing our own pathology
from someone else's -- and these will never be completely eliminated.
However, with our own psychotherapy these blind spots can be
reduced, or at least coped with in a healthy manner.
This may seem difficult to believe, but more than
one therapist believes in therapy for everyone else ... but
not for himself or herself. If for no other reason than to feel
the feelings on both sides of couch, all therapists need to
have had or be currently involved in their own personal psychotherapy.
No ifs, ands, or buts.
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