it doesn't sound heinous. but, at the same time, he's sharing his opinion. some people (maybe not you, but some people) are people pleasers and will be swayed by hearing an authority figure's opinion, particularly if somehow they say 'well my therapist recommended it, so maybe it will help.' rather than listening to their own desires in life.

maybe this was an issue for your friend, maybe she had people in her life that she felt she 'had to' comply with or couldn't locate her own self/experience if there was another person's in the mix. i personally struggle with that. i had things like teacher tell me 'oh, XYZ would be great," and i ended up doing XYZ because "so and so said it would be good," and i was looking for approval.

it would have been better for me if i had people encouraging me to understand myself. it sounds like maybe you have that ability to stay with yourself and not kind of 'lose yourself' in the other person. so, maybe not an issue for your therapy. my T is very careful about this. he doesn't want me to do 'the right thing,' but to be able to understand what the right thing is for me on my own. that's particular to me.

i too would worry a little if i heard just the bits you shared. just a little worried that you might end up changing your opinions without realizing it after talking to him. like, that he will have an influence just by virtue of expressing his opinion. there's power in being a therapist and even simple things can influence how we think or consider situations.

not saying that will happen, just that it happens to some ppl so those of us who are like that have to be extra cautious...or we end up trying to be who the therapist wants...rather than our real self.