There are a ton of therapists in Kitchener, Waterloo, and Cambridge, and choosing the right one can seem daunting. Everyone has different likes and dislikes, but here are three basic criteria that can help you make the right choice.

1. You can see yourself having a good relationship with them. The healing of counselling takes place in the context of a relationship, so having a solid relationship with your therapist is the foundation of everything else. Regardless of individual style or characteristics, a good therapist should be empathetic, authentic, and capable of seeing the best in you.

2. They are skilled and confident. At the end of the day, you can have a good relationship with your grandma - and she probably won't charge you money for it. A good therapist should therefore not only be empathetic and kind, but also highly skilled and confident in their abilities. They should also be able to keep you in the loop as to where therapy is headed and why they're doing what they're doing. 

3. They've done their own therapy. What separates excellent therapists from their peers is that the excellent ones have done their own inner work. People who have worked through their own shit tend to live their own values deeply, laugh easily, and relate to others with profound understanding and compassion. Going to a therapist who hasn't done their own work may not be the best use of your resources - kind of like going to a personal trainer who doesn't exercise.

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