Hi Sunrise,

I've been following this thread with interest. If my t had used that statement, "I'm not firing you as a client," the word "firing" is what would bother me most. Partly because of the power factor, but also because to fire someone is to put an end to a business relationship. I wouldn't like being reminded that the therapy relationship is a business relationship that could be readily severed at any given moment. It would trigger my feelings of insecurity about the therapeutic relationship -- make me worry that my t didn't think it was real or meaningful! I'm sure your t didn't mean that at all, but that's what a comment like that would stir in my insecure heart!

Interestingly, you have the power to "fire" your t just as readily, since you are the one paying for his services. So his power over you in this matter isn't any greater than your power over him.

It sounds like you're doing a good job of analyzing why his comment bothered you. You are already on your way to seeing how you want to put this new realization to good use.