I agree with those who say that the therapist holds more power, as long as we keep the focus to the area that the client needs help with. After all, one is expert (or we hope is) and the other is not. Knowledge is power. And so is having the skills. So in that sense, the therapist has the power.

Not exactly the same, but in some ways almost my plumber has more power than I do. I'm not a handy person. My plumber is. And when the pipes burst, we so desperately needed the plumber. We paid anything she charged us.

Comparably, the therapist holds way more power than a plumber. I can't deny that. If my therapist were to decide to abuse me, nobody could come even close. My plumber knows so little about my weaknesses and my past and my suffering and how I feel about myself. My therapist has documents and pages on them.

Which is why my plumber does not go through such extensive training and supervision nor has such a long ethical code. There is less danger of my plumber doing traumatic damage by sleeping with a client, than my T. Which is quite funny in real life because the last plumber to our house was actually a young lady (a rarity!) and I did feel attracted to her. Whereas I don't feel attracted to my T at all. But I digress.

So I'm not of the mindset that it's all relative. Sometimes people who don't want to admit to the therapist having power, don't want to admit to their own powerlessness or need in that area.

But in my view it's wrong to say that if you have power in X area, then therefore you have all the power. My therapist can't help me or change me without me participating in it. I'm not in a prison cell being dragged to a torture chamber with my hands and feet all tied. I have a choice. I have a will.

Similarly my plumber can't come over unless I call her. In addition, there are other areas where I or any client might be more powerful than their therapist. They might have more physical strength, know more about history, have more connections, expertise in economics, knowledge of dance, whatever. You might one day see your T come to your workplace to buy a drill not having any idea what things to look for in a good drill. There you have more power in that area. You could in fact lie to your T and she would not know it. So that's what I mean.

The therapist is here to help ME solve MY problems. The one-sidedness which can make some people feel powerless (sort of as if being questioned by the police), is actually meant to keep the focus on the client for their benefit!

In addition the client can ask for a T's qualifications. One can also complain about the therapist to her face. You are allowed. You can refuse treatment, leave. You can file a complaint, sue the T. Change therapists. Take a break. Choose one of many other alternatives to improve your well-being than going for therapy.

I was traumatized by two therapists, and in one case, I chose to file official complaint because I thought it was bad enough. That person eventually lost their license after they were sued by couple more people. Apparently I was not their only victim. I felt extremely powerless at the time but I'm so glad there are things one can do when/if (I hope it does not happen to anybody) a T misuses his or her power. And if you ever go in for therapy and think you're totally powerless, talk to some other people. Might give you perspective.