That's a good question lola. (I voted that power is equal, btw).

I have and continue to struggle with the idea of power in relationships and I did briefly struggle with this idea in therapy of my T having power. I think, for me, it came from my own inner insecurities. Once I found a place of security in myself, I didn't perceive and I don't perceive a power differential.

I also think there are shades of authority. For example, I go to my doctor and I expect her to be an expert in her field. In that sense she is *an* authority on a subject but she is not *my* authority, like my parents were when I was a child or like my boss would be at work. If I doubt her answers or I think something doesn't feel right, then I would seek out another authority, or expert, on the subject. I perceive my T the same way. He has a PhD, he's trained in evidence-based therapy, and while he may not be an expert about *me*, he does have access to knowledge and training I don't have.

The analogy breaks down because therapy has a heavier subjective component. I can learn skills and apply them in my own life. I can't learn heart surgery and then perform a bypass on myself (yikes).