I have never met a therapist that was not manipulative either in my private life or in my professional experience with them. I have no trouble taking people at their word - the problem I have had is that therapists have said X won't happen again - even promised X won't happen again- and then the next week - X. I don't know if they are insincere or stupid -it doesn't matter to me why - but I keep tight control because I do not find therapists -as a whole- trustworthy about much outside of the fee being what was agreed upon and they will be there when they say they will. Outside of that, I would not trust them more than that which I am willing to lose. I have not experienced therapists as kind or patient -but I was not really looking for those things.
To me, the idea that one of them would be perceptive is laughable.
But others have different reasons they hire one and different interactions with them than I do.