Sorry to dig up an old thread but I found this interesting as I simply don't know about my T's life experiences other than knowing that he does have wounds (his term for having suffered in the past).

I was surprised that some people mentioned their Ts having done personal therapy - as if this wasn't just a given. I'm in the UK and therapists belonging to the various accrediting bodies have to have done a certain amount of personal therapy and must be in regular supervision. So you can assume any accredited therapist has been in therapy. I think it's a mandatory part of their training.

I can't remember if my T is currently still in personal therapy, or if it's required, but I suspect he is.

As to others being worse off, I'm going to quote my T on this: "If someone cuts off my leg and your toe, your toe still hurts. Nobody can know which hurts more."