Hmmm, doesn't sound like any CBT I've participated in. No, i don't find CBT manipulative. It is intended to be an eye opening experience in that the idea is to recognise the negative automatic thoughts that don't work for you and form some alternate positive ones instead. I don't see how this is manipulative at all. Most CBT work is done outside of the therapist's office in the way of logs, journals, and worksheets/books. It requires a great deal of commitment and work on the part of the individual to make a success of it. Yes, it is not for everyone. Not everyone is up to the task of all the homework and, of course, it requires a 'buy in' to the process. One part of CBT in fact is about assessing your present thinking styles and recognising how they affect you negatively. What CBT may be occuring is that I think your therapist is merely trying to get you to see yourself in the light of these patterns. Consider she is trying to help you. This is not being manipulative. It is not being mean. It is an attempt to have you understand yourself.