The person's own level of buyin is Absolutely a part of the process. See Persuasion and Healing by Frank and Frank. Psychotherapy has its links to shamanism, as do many forms of persuasion. It's very humbling to realize a precious method is not some great secret sauce.
So it’s secular faith healing.
In part. Essentially it's 50% alliance (my therapist really gets me and I like our sessions), about 40% non specific factors present across all therapies (therapist listens, reflects, pays close attention), and maybe, *maybe* 10% specific factors that come down to a specific method.
I would simply never give someone else that level of access to my epistemic core. Not in a world where predators abound.
That's entirely reasonable. Therapy isn't for everyone, just like tax accountants aren't for everyone. All it is is a way of addressing a particular set of human problems.