So, I saw a therapist recently briefly, and while I wouldn't say she was as terrible as the examples above, I didn't think she was a good therapist. She "hmm"ed sympathetically in the right places, and nodded in understanding, but I don't feel she really helped me figure out any of my problems. Any trying to understand my problems or to resolve them really started with me. After a few sessions, I was pretty much convinced she was an idiot an that I was paying her for nothing I couldn't do myself.

Also, the fact that from almost the first or second session, she was recommending antidepressants (which I had said I was not for, and which, at that point, wasn't really warranted - later, they were) made me really unhappy. I wanted to find more long-term solutions and also try to talk through my issues, not just drug myself into happiness unless there was no other solution. To me, that was like saying that she'd rather throw drugs at the problems than actually try to figure out why they existed.

For me, I wish I had a more interactive, engaging therapist who would ask questions when it was obvious there were deeper reasons, who made me really think, and then helped me figure out - with some guidance - a healthier way of thinking about things - not someone who just hmmed and hawed and nodded a lot. ;P

That's just me, but mostly I appreciate an intelligent therapist who actually contributes thoughts to the issues, listens, and also responds in a meaningful way.