I knew/know my therapist outside of therapy Actually, it was that way for three of my therapists. And then with another therapist I also saw her in a psychotherapy group (she's now no longer my therapist, but I do see my current psychiatrist there).

The first three therapists were doing their internship for their MA in Pastoral Counselling at my university, so I met them there. It was nice to get to know them on a personal level beyond "rules" and "confidentiality". I wouldn't change the experience for anything, I like knowing that people actually have lives outside of their career/job. Every once in a while my first therapist (who is now my current therapist, yes that's confusing) stops by at my university in the chaplaincy to say hi to people there because she likes to visit on occassion. It's not a secret I'm one of her current clients with my friends either. It's kinda cool to be able to associate beyond the 1-2 hours a week thing.