SW, we all are influenced by the people in our lives, whether therapists, teachers, clergy, friends, relatives, co-workers, etc. I had several influential adults in my life when I was a teen and a young adult. I think this can be very positive in the life of a young person. You can look at those people, see what you admire and want to emulate, and use them as role models to become the person you want to be in life. If your T has qualities you admire, then that is a good thing. If you can become "more like her" in these attributes you admire and respect, then that is a good thing too. I think everyone can benefit from mentors and role models, and perhaps your T can partly be those things.

Considering therapists, if therapy is successful, then I think they would have influenced us to change, solve our problems, become more functional, social, assertive--whatever it is you are there to work on. I think therapy in which the therapist has no influence would not be that effective.

I wouldn't say it would be worse if you were younger, but perhaps because you are less "formed" yet, a person could have a greater influence. Although I am in mid-life, I have been greatly influenced by my T. He is a good communicator, and I have come to want to be better at communicating too. He is very authentic--his inside and outside personas are in sync. I have admired this greatly and now strive to be more authentic too. He has influenced me in so many positive ways. He has some qualities that I do not admire or seek to emulate. Like not answering phone calls. So even though he is this way, I have not chosen to become more like him in this regard. I don't think he likes me less because I am not a bad phone call answerer. You just kind of pick and choose the features you want to model yourself on.

I hope your T will be a positive influence in your life.