Yes, my T goes advice and I do ask for his advice. I want and expect that from my therapists. I know some people think therapists have no business giving advice, but fine, go to a therapist who doesn't give advice then. I like that directness and focused help, so I deliberately seek out those kinds of therapists.

I think when you say "Does your therapist give advice?" it is quite possible that the word "advice" means different things to different people though.

For me, what that means is that my T helps me through a process of laying out what my options may be in a given situation. He helps me see options that may not have even occurred to me because of my own limitations in objectivity and my own tunnel-vision when it comes to certain areas of my life. He helps me rank those options as far as odds of success, advisability, etc. Rarely does he actually say "You NEED to do such and such exactly this way." Usually it is more in the process I just described. I see that as his teaching me evaluation skills; that seems like a very practical and life-long skill that is vital.

The only time he gets really firm about telling me I need to pretty much do something the way he tells me is when I am in severe mental crisis, particularly if he feels I may be in danger and that my ability to think rationally is really not functioning well at all. That is a safety issue and taking that stance is warranted and really his professional duty. To do any less might be neglectful and malpractice.