I am in the US and although I have been in T for most of my life and 8-9 years with the same person, I don't have the relationship that the others describe here - we've never hugged, touched...I don't have her email address or personal cell phone # and I don't have any special feeling towards her more than knowing that I can tell her anything and she never judges me or yells at me - like that friend I can always count on. I don't think she loves me or thinks I'm like a child to her (we are almost the same age)...it's a very comfortable relationship and I know I can count on her if I need her. The T I had growing up (for probably 15 years) was a male and my parents age. He knew me from the age of 15 - 30, saw me through some of the most horrific points of my life where I was seeing him 3x a week. I always saw him as my friend...he knew my parents from family counseling sessions....

I think the relationships are what you and your T allow them to be....maybe some cultures allow for more closeness than others....I just don't have that personality either.