Hi beauflow, it sounds like your therapist is concerned that if you allow others to treat you badly that you might be contributing to your own low self esteem and self respect.

I think that it would be helpful if you share the situations where the other person behaves badly and you stay quiet and think to yourself (as you have described) this is that other person's problem.

I know for myself that I have had a lot of experiences where another person was angry about something and took THEIR issues out on me. Their behavior was wrong and inappropriate. Sometimes it's important to speak up and even report someone if they behave badly enough.