What do you do when you disagree with Ts recommendations

My T might (very rarely) suggest things I might try, but they are never expectations, and I am explicitly not accountable to him for anything except showing up on time for my sessions. When I disagree I may or may not tell him; I am conflict shy and have a disproportionate fear of offending others but I have never experienced any negative or unpleasant reaction from T when I openly disagree with him.

My previous T suggested some self-talk mumbo jumbo which made me spiral further down rather rapidly, and which actually harmed me, so I quit doing that. I was not accountable to her either and I don't think it came up in the remaining sessions I had with her, but the fact that she was so badly attuned to what I needed was the main reason I switched therapists.

The difference to me is that therapy can take this to a crazy extreme. Personal trainers are coaching in a fairly straightforward way on fitness goals, whereas therapists in some cases are holding you accountable for how to live and what to feel, and then firing you, or threatening to, if you don't comply with their wishes. And it's sometimes done in the most humiliating and shaming way.

Fair enough. There's certainly a huge potential for abuse, there.

I would always use my own judgment. I wouldn't let a T dictate what I can/can't do.

I was with a T for 5 1/2 years and, with her, if I disagreed with a suggestion I simply let her know and that was it. She trusted my judgment as well. For instance, I don't do mindfulness-- it's just not for me. I couldn't see a T who didn't respect MY boundaries, and using my own judgment is one of those boundaries.

After my long-term T retired, I briefly saw another T. She was absolutely horrible. She told me that if I continued to maintain any contact with my previous T, not only would she terminate me but she would report my previous T. She claimed this was "in my best interests"-- which she claimed to know after meeting me twice. I terminated with her because I was not about to let her dictate my life choices. If a T doesn't respect me and my judgment, they couldn't not be helpful to me. In fact, they could do real harm.

Almost always when my T suggests I try something. I bristle and refuse. He always backs off and assures me has no skin in the game and my choice is my own, it was just a suggestion he thought might be helpful. On a couple of occasions I have felt ,ore pressure, and when I got upset about it, T said he thought he was getting ahead of himself and thinking his way would help me feel better without respecting my feelings.

It has been very helpful, actually, to have these tensions in our relationship, because it has taught me how to disagree and assert my feelings without destroying a relationship.

That's very extreme for your T to respond in that fashion and especially to report a previous T. It seems as if that T doesn't know her boundaries and needs limitations. I do believe that a T should respect be open to a clients opinion instead of trying to impose or force their ways and opinions on the client. I've come across Ts that become defensive or take it personally when you disagree with them. rhey claim to be open but get defensive or offended when you questions their recommendations or methods.

I have dealt with many personal trainers and they where open to hear what I had to say concerning exercise or methods. They would adjust and we were able to come to an agreement. They wouldn't get offended either but they would explain to me the reasoning behind their thinking which I appreciated. I haven't had that same luck with Ts.