There are many ideas about how therapy should be done and probably most of them work well for at least some people. However, therapy is not a "one size fits all" endeavor. The trick is to figure out what works for you and then find a therapist whose style matches what you need. I view therapy as an intimate journey inside yourself that's taken with the help, support and witness of another human being who's trained in taking and guiding such journeys. In some ways, it's about relationship — relationship with oneself — which is learned via relationship with the therapist, so finding a therapist you like and feel good about is important.
I believe that each of us has our own internal wisdom which holds the precise template we need for healing. I see my job as the therapist as helping people discover and utilize this inner wisdom as their road map for growth. Often, our core or "real" self is hidden and well-defended as a result of many years of negative life experiences. Watching the true self begin to peek out and then eventually grow and thrive is a process I don't think I'll ever tire of.
Working with clients has always seemed like an honor in that in therapy, most people are at their most real and genuine, both in the lighter as well as the darker, heavier moments. I always experience this kind of authentic relating as a gift and my belief is that it provides a fertile foundation for healing.