ABSTRACT
Much of what goes into becoming an effective therapist is the day-by-day experiential learning of what works best with particular kinds of patients. Through his concentration on constructive change in his own clients, day by day and year by year, the therapist learns more about what he can borrow from others and successfully use with his own personality in dealing with the type of clients he meets. Not only is the effective therapist or counselor an expert in interpersonal skills that facilitate the client's resolution of emotional, motivational, and interpersonal problems, but to be maximally effective the therapist must also have expert knowledge across the wide range of human functioning. Clearly, the counselor or therapist is devoting his time, talent, personal involvement and energies to influencing the patient toward positive behavioral change or personality growth. The placing of time limits as an aspect of structuring the relationship appears to be of therapeutic value.
