I haven't asked my T this question because he is purposely taking a "blank slate" approach. I've tried getting him to self-disclose in a round-about way, but he just won't. He did ask me about my own interest in psychology and I told him that I felt compelled to explore certain aspects of myself. He nodded in response which seemed to me that he was identifying on some level. I'm convinced that many people in "helping" professions were either parentified as children or are attempting to "fix" themselves by helping others. Actually, my T and I were discussing a related topic in today's session. He made the comment that, "Even altruistic acts are selfishly motivated."

If your T asks why you want to know, I'd tell him that his disclosure would help establish a better therapeutic alliance and that the relationship IS co-created. It may be a personal question, but I don't feel it's an inappropriate one. Just my 2 cents.