I've also learned from experience that having professional knowledge and qualifications in mental health only helps so much (I have a PhD)... and in some ways, it helps absolutely nothing or can even hinder getting better.

It sounds like you are dissatisfied now... so can you do things differently from now on? Do you have specific goals, what you would like to be different? If so, maybe find the resources and focus on those areas. I found therapy very interesting but was frustrated when I had periods of just aimless wandering. The therapists did not feel the same way and actually encouraged drifting all over the map but that way of doing therapy for extended periods mostly causes me stress and a sense of inadequacy. It works much much better for me when I focus on goals even if sometimes the therapy discussions are not centered around those topics... but I need to see a perspective and what I am working towards.