With my first T, I felt like he learned a lot from me - because I felt like I was the first one to walk into his office with my issue which was very odd (and 25% of women have faced assault, so it's a common thing!). I gave him the book "From Trauma to Recovery" and this had a big impact on him.
I had a wicked case of transference, which I talked about. He didn't know what to do, so this gave him a chance to learn....and experience some counter-transference. He said he felt manipulated. DUH that is the inner teenager trying to get her way! I was constantly working on having an impact on him, getting a reaction out of him - did I touch his heart?

I've always been committed to the process and expected to experience a change in my way of thinking/reacting. So, once I learned HOW to do therapy then I always did the work - show up and talk. Keep doing work between sessions. Use what you learn. He once said "We aren't supposed to give grades in here but you are a very good therapy client."

Oh, but my new T, she knew lots about my issue and had great things to teach me. I am not trying to impact her or touch her heart, because I am secure in my relationship with her - because that's how she wants me to feel. So what I bring is still my willingness to do hard work in therapy.

And I know this impacts or impresses her because she will stop me and take stock of how I"ve changed. And I'll claim the credit/compliment (most of the time). She says it's a gift to her that I work this hard.

$&*# now I"m crying, because I realize she's giving me something I never got as a kid - positive reinforcement and praise for doing hard work.