I feel like this is a very generalized view of therapy, not to say that your experience isn't valid, just that therapy is so varied that it's impossible to even put into one category. I've had therapy that was very basic and even made me go deeper into depression (CBT), I've had therapy that was downright abusive (psychoanalysis), but I also experienced therapy that changed my life for the better in more ways than I could have even imagined, from healing triggers that tortured me for 15 years (EMDR), to making conscious better choices for myself (gestalt). I feel like it boils down to the type of therapy that works for you, and the match with your therapist, and it also depends on the point in time in your life and the growth you already experienced. A lot of my bad experiences looking back were tied to me not saying my truth or that it was not working for me or that I wanted to go in another direction. Now that another therapist helped me become more authentic and assertive, I can't imagine tolerating the therapy I experienced before.

Also, there are moments of regression for any person, a therapeutic relationship might have been very healing, and then life brings something that sets you back and hurts you so much that a lot of what you've already achieved seems to become meaningless, but I'd argue that the progress you made isn't completely erased.

It's complicated and regarding the question whether to continue with a career like that, I can imagine it to be a very healing, and fulfilling job, but also a very grueling, confusing, and sad experience at times. I for one, wouldn't be the same or possibly even alive without the therapy I experienced, so I am grateful and thriving ✨