likelife: I relate to your feelings totally! Yours too, dreamy. My former T was the same as yours, dreamy. No exploration of the past; she didn't want to deal with my "child parts". I felt like arrows piercing my heart if I thought about quitting, though. I saw her for about 6 years.

I agree with eastcoaster's T who said "THIS is the work". With my current T, we are talking as much as necessary about OUR relationship and how I feel about her. I need that, though I know it's not about HER. I need her to be there, validating my feelings for her and not shaming me for them. I need that desperately.

I think you need that too, right now. It's a horrible place to be, wanting a T so much, but it's about basic unmet needs. It always goes back to that. I think, after all my therapy, I'm getting somewhere with it, realizing that T really cares about me, and always will, but I have to be there for myself. It's a VERY slow process, and is painful. But it's like growing up all over again. I think if you stick with your T and continue to explore your needs for her, it will get better. You're NOT alone at all with this. I think it's what most of us need and want from therapy.

I wanted to quote from the posts in your thread; they are all so meaningful but I haven't learned how to do that correctly--still.