I have found taking breaks quite useful as well as telling the therapist to stop, in no uncertain or equivocal terms, doing the things that are not useful or that I dislike. There are times when a client simply must, in my opinion, clearly set the rules for the therapist. If the therapist brings up something I think is not useful - I give them a chance to explain why they are bringing it up - if they fail or cannot or refuse to explain in a satisfactory manner, I tell them I am not going to do so. And I move on. Without explanation and my consent, I do not let the therapist do whatever they want. I cannot compel the therapist to explain, but I can refuse to go along if they do not.
It has been quite useful for me.