Personally, I don't mind if the therapist characterizes me or my actions as manipulative if it's accurate. I am well aware that I have a manipulative streak and while I'm not proud of it, I do own it and take responsibility for when I am manipulative. Sometimes I've even gone in and told her I was being manipulative, because it's something that troubles me. Sometimes I don't intend to be manipulative or don't realize that's what I'm doing at the time, and sometimes I do. Either way, it counts.

I guess it's kind of contradictory, being direct about a tendency towards manipulation. But I'm hoping that owning up to it will help somehow.