I think authoritative is not necessarily a bad thing by itself - most people go to therapy to get some sort of explanation or solution to our issues that we fail to resolve. Or at least to acquire new perspectives, support, whatnot. IMO it is more about what the source of the authority is and how it is practiced. I more than welcome useful expert feedback that helps me go beyond the perspectives I can generate on my own. But not merely based on some anticipated hierarchy and power structure, I personally had never felt my Ts had any authority because they did not provide much I could not have derived by myself or in many other ways - they just did not earn that role with me. In contrast, I knew someone in the past who used to be a T before he retired, I met him in a peer support group. That guy earned my respect pretty quickly and kept it, too. There were very clear reasons why it worked that way, including that he never imposed authority of any kind, he was just leading by example and by the virtue of his own discipline, insightfulness and respectfulness. Never tried to play power games but clearly many people in the group looked up to him and sought him out due to the same reasons I did. There was nothing guru-like about him, he was also quite humble but very firm in his approaches and opinions, yet open-minded. It was very helpful and we developed a very good relationship. That was also my incentive to try formal psychotherapy - I thought if it was so positive and useful to interact with him, perhaps real psychotherapy would be similar for me. No such luck, I could never find a practicing T available to me with similar style (and sadly, that guy died quite suddenly after a short battle with cancer, quite young). I don't think it is too much about actual modality, more the individual and the unique combination of the two people. For example, I know a psychoanalyst via my work who, I think, could potentially be very compatible but I could not see him as a client because we have a work relationship at the same institution.

My approach to these things (and to many other things in life): is it useful in any way? It can be worth taking some time because the usefulness often does not emerge quickly but, if there is no evolution after months or a year, I typically don't see a reason to keep pushing, especially if it costs money, time etc. If the costs outweigh the benefits or perceived benefits I can anticipate. So, for me, I don't mind authority or anything if it is beneficial. If not, what's the point?