If the author is at all representative of the profession clearly they do see themselves as omnipotent, or at least of a higher order. Therapist websites also convey the same message in varying degrees.

What makes you think the client is putting the T's life in danger in that vignette? Maybe it is the other way around.

And if the T does not want to deal with a suicidal client, why did they start at all? Therapists are good at getting into terrible messes with clients, but not so good at cleaning up. And the system is set up to give them an easy out. The ethics codes leave it to their discretion. Check a few boxes, no oversight, next client...