Psychotherapy is often categorized as one of the professions with the highest risk of assault of violence. Therapists are alone in a room with unpredictable people.

Some therapists specialize in working with dangerous and violent populations, and thus have that thick skin. Most do not, nor are they required to "butch up" (and honestly, as a butch who wouldn't tolerate that kind of behavior from a client for two seconds, what does that even mean?) and tolerate physically intimidating coercive behavior.

I don't understand thinking the therapist overreacted to someone admitting they used a violent tactic to try and get their way. And yes, hitting furniture is violence.