Which counsellor to choose?

If we are fortunate enough to be able to choose our counsellor I wonder what it is that we are choosing? I think it is worth considering what  we want from our counsellor, so that we don't end up much further down the line with someone we didn't feel was for us in the first instance. I think this may be part of the healing process for some - are we able to listen to our own needs and take the responsibility to start to meet our own needs? or do we neglect ourselves and our needs? This maybe the first time we are able to make these kind of choices..

For some there may not be much of an option as to who we see as our counsellor. I wonder is this a hindrance to the therapeutic outcome? Hopefully we are lucky enough to have a counsellor that we can work with at forming a helpful, working relationship..If not do we tend to stay in relationships that are not helpful and have no real substance..?