I think that the therapist and the client have different types of power (maybe?) but that the therapist definitely has an advantage here.

I have seen my therapist in 4 different offices now. He clearly has the power to dictate where we're going to meet. I don't get a say (other than, when he's simultaneously using two offices on different days, I can request an appointment at either one).

My therapist sets his fees. He has the power to reduce them or raise them. He's already raised them once, and he's really expensive (but he was kind enough to allow me to continue paying the old rate). I have no say about this, other than to quit if it becomes too expensive.

My therapist defines his policies, as he should. But, one policy is that he requests 3 days notice (72 hours) to cancel a session. That's 3 *business* days, it doesn't count the weekend or holidays. Again, he has the power to disregard that, and not ask me to pay for a missed session in case of an emergency - but it's up to his whim, not mine.

For these types of things, my only "power" is to quit if I disagree.

The problem is... what happens when you're vulnerable or have no other source of support? Most of the people that I used to count on are gone, or unavailable. My therapist is really *it*. So, walking out becomes a much less viable option.

On top of that, some of us take a really *long* time to get comfortable and open up. Exercising our power to leave means (at least to me) starting over at square 1 with a new therapist. I don't know if I can deal with another year and a half of trying to just get comfortable. It feels like walking away, my "power", ends up hurting me worse than my therapist...