The therapist/client relationship.
Imagine you are trying to climb up a steep and dangerous cliff face. Who would you prefer to help you climb- someone shouting directions from the top, or someone just a bit further up the cliff than you are, who can reach down and give you a hand? Imagine that the person just above you has the climbing kit, and has helped lots of people up cliffs before, but she recognises that every cliff is different, and every climber has her or his own way of climbing.
Sometimes a client will ask me what they should do. Sometimes it’s a very straightforward question that wants a simple answer, but even then, how would I know what is best for you? I’m afraid I often give the irritating, seemingly slippery, answer you’d expect from a therapist or counsellor. “What do you think I would say you should do?” That can open a whole new area to explore, because actually, it’s you who has the answer, not me.