Whoa here folks! I gotta say, I think the way you are feeling about your therapist is completely normal, healthy and a natural extension of being treated kindly, with respect and attention.

I see absolutely no reason for you to beat yourself up over it. I mean, if one is subject to abuse, the fact that you still crave and desire love - and can recognize at least the basics of what constitutes love - is a celebration of the human spirit and its innate, and indomitable willingness to connect.

I say, enjoy how *you* feel about your therapist.

The pain from this is going to come when you realize (and you will and it's okay) that your therapist, if he cares for you at all, will celebrate this feeling with you, but cannot return it the way you want.

It has nothing to do with you, it has nothing to do with whether you deserve his love or not, but rather it has everything to do with your *long term happiness*.

If you can allow yourself to feel love for your therapist, then I'm sure you can imagine how *amazing* it would feel if love *can* and *will* be reciprocated.

It's important to understand that your therapist's experience of therapy is entirely different from yours. You share, he doesn't. You experience intimacy with him, but he only, and rightly, participates in your intimacy. It does not flow in both directions.

I think it is very easy for people to say "OH NO, don't feel this, don't expect this, don't....." However, you feel the way you feel, and it's okay.

This therapeutic relationship has limits, but imagine what a relationship that *doesn't* have these limits would feel like!