Diana,
   Crying hard can be a gimmick.  True, those that experienced a greater
range of emotions had more positive outcomes (Luborsky; Nixon, 1982)"
...[Some good level of anxiety is also helpful -- Meehl argues this is one
of the main jobs of the "therapist".][And]"... there seems to be a general
trend indicating that greater initial anxiety is related to better outcome
(Kernberg, et al., 1972; Learner and Fiske, 1973)."

 BUT note:

..."*Neither* client client insight or self-exploration [(which
basically includes "exploration of the past")] was [generally] related to
successful counseling outcome (Morgan, et al., 1982; Luborsky)...."When
clients were directed to attend to their affective states, it was
sometimes, but not always helpful (Nichols, 1974)." "Little was
accomplished when counselors used "immediacy", ...[and] under conditions
of low empathy and genuineness this may even be harmful." [This is
interesting, because "immediacy" is a skill that counselors-in-training are
coached, again and again, to try to achieve and it is thought to be very
important; but, it is considered an advanced or difficult skill (citation:
Ivey, any year in the last 25).]..."[Somewhat similarly,] "confrontation"
was often but not consistently found related to [positive]
outcome"...It is not reliably

For more on how you can tell if Treatment is Good (ususally) see my "FAQ"
on this.  It is a summary of some of the very best research.  The web
address is:

http://www.future.net/~bradj/FAQ.html

regards, Brad Jesness

>You should pick a therapist whom you like.Someone you can communicate with
>, someone you can trust. Try to recall a positive interaction with amale
>or a female and then see a therapist male or female in correspondance.
>Cry hard.
> Josef
>
>On Sun, 12 Jul 1998, Diana sadykov wrote:
>
>> In looking for a new personal analyst, i am not sure whether i should
>>choose a
>> female or male analyst or whether it doesnt really matter at all. Im female
>> myself and have not had much luck with male psychotherapists, so i figured
>> that maybe having a female psychotherapist would be more beneficial,,
>>but then
>> again i wondered whether there will be enough transference on to the
>>therapist
>> if she was a female. I would greatly appreciate it if anyone has any
>> suggestions for me..
>> Thanku, Diana
>>