My T has shared things now and then, more personal sorts of things.....like about the baby she lost several years ago, a few things to do with how she dealt emotionally with it after that, being in therapy.....and I was honored she did so. And yet, it wasn't totally random....it was in relation to issues we were talking about with me, too. I want to know, and yet I don't, more of the story about the baby.....and yet, thinking about boundaries, I think I won't dare ask! But I am glad that there are little things, anecdotes, that she does share from her experience....makes her more real, helps me understand more of what 'makes her tick' as a therapist, what things have influenced her or her perspective.
And I think that being allowed to see a little more of her as a person, that does make it easier to trust, easier to go deeper.....not that it's precisely easy at all! But for me, it does ease the pain of the journey some, to feel like I know the person who is with me in it. It is an intimate journey, yes, allowing someone to come with us as we journey through painful, dark places in our minds and hearts......for myself, I simply couldn't do it without feeling like there was some sort of connection to that person before I let them in so far.
and yes, sometimes I find myself thinking, is there really a point to therapy, is there value in all this painfully hard work?! but, yes, there is. I am gaining a more intimate knowledge of myself, hopefully a better understanding of my authentic self and therefore a better relationship with myself and those I love........there is also value in simply having the support I need right now, too, because lord knows I need it!!