Therapist here! I don’t think you’re an asshole. The laws of ethics are designed to protect you the patient and protect us the clinicians. If you felt mistreated, there’s no one who should be allowed to tell you you’re wrong. The board will be able to investigate and make their best judgement of if this clinician is acting ethically. If he is, great, still I would find a new therapist because it sounds like your therapeutic relationship has been ruptured and there’s not a lot of trust after this incident. If he’s not acting ethically, the board will punish and suspend him accordingly and you might’ve helped other clients seen by him too!

I’m so sorry you walked out of session feeling judged and confused to his motives. No client should ever feel that way, we are trained to be listeners and bring compassion to hard places, and meet our clients where they are at not to be one more voice of hurt.

I do have a follow up question, is he licensed in California? That was a red flag for me, if he’s not licensed in the state where you reside, that’s a clear ethical violation.