That comment really does feel off to me. It takes a very utilitarian view to a job, relationship, and friends. As if the point of all those things was to make one happy. As if the point of life was to acquire those things in order to maintain one's personal health. Those things are nice. But they are not what makes life worth living; bad jobs and bad relationships can in fact make life very hard.

Just a personal reflection, but I would be very disheartened to hear what your therapist told you. Even despite having struggled with stuff and thought about suicide in the past, I have values that I believe in, and experiences that I am curious to have, people I want to meet, work I want to accomplish. I want to make the world a better place for others-- I think most people (most shrinks included) have some combination of these goals too. Awe- civic engagement- the ability to use my mind and heart to experience life-- without those things, I truly would want to kill myself, because that is what life is to me. Not some checklist one amasses in order to obtain health. That is what has gotten me through the hard times when I haven't had a job- or a relationship- or friends- or even a competent shrink. I have all three of those things now too so I know that they can come and go based on circumstances.

Anyhow I think life is bigger than that simple statement of your Ts. That is a wonderful thing, basically.

I am really curious that your T listed her job as one of the things, btw, that makes her life worth living. I do wonder whether she meant earning a living is a basic condition for living, or if she can really appreciate the potential of her clients. I hope you guys can talk about this.