I do understand.....somehow, I feel sort of guilty at times for getting to spend a whole 60 min. focused on ME, when I have always been taught NOT to focus on me, and to draw out the other person and have mutuality in conversation! Makes me feel a bit like I am getting to indulge a selfish desire/need to talk so much about me, my pain, my problems......but actually, it is a genuine need that I couldn't expect a friend to ever fulfill. So T does fulfill that need and it is a safe place to talk about ME!
My T does self-disclose, never inappropriately, but the fact that she does does make it feel a bit more balanced, rather than ALL me ALL the time.....I get to know stuff like T is an insomniac sometimes and that's why she loves relaxation/guided imagery/sleep CDs! It makes her, and thus the interaction, seem more real and helps me feel less selfish/guilty in some way....I know this sounds funny....