It's an analogy not reality. Some people may feel trapped in a cage going around in circles on the running wheel hamsters have. Repeating patterns in real life, not even aware they exist until the therapist points them out.
You might not rely on your therapist but a lot of people do, that's why we are all different and in therapy for different reasons.
Exactly, in therapy we do learn these skills, the skills that set us free and to enable us to cope ourselves and for some their t is the interaction they have.