I don't fault anyone for idolizing a therapist. Had PC existed when I was in the thick of it I'd be right there too.

However in my case, I do fault the multiple therapists for leading me on with the illusion that therapists were something they weren't, that they could compensate for what I missed in childhood and that they had ANY mastery of life that I didn't. They were like stage performers taking roles of authority figures and parents. I ultimately found that manipulative, dishonest and harmful.

And I fault the larger profession for what I see as objectifying, remote, condescending depiction of clients in its literature. From what I've read, it would be very easy for a therapist in training to lose sight that he's just an imperfect human being reaching out to another. I can see why a therapist can evolve to believe his own publicity as authority figure, savior and stage manager in another person's life. I find this harmful.

I now know a therapist in real life. And unfortunately, she acts in real life pretty much how I've seen them in practice--telling me repeatedly compassionate she is (like she's created a persona for herself), playing queen bee, boasting about her accomplishments and doling out unsolicited (and in this case absolutely inept) Life Lessons.

A real life colleague behaving like this simply is a fool. If I went to her as a distressed client, I'd probably buy her performance, unfortunately. It's impossible to get perspective on who the person is from the construction of therapy.