Not too long ago, my T said regarding therapy with him, "that's why you're here--to learn what normal is." I think there is a lot to that. The experience of having a "normal", healthy relationship with him has been healing in many ways, beyond the actual "work" we do in session. It gives me hope that not all people are awful, that a relationship can be fulfilling and positive rather than draining and negative, that I can benefit from a relationship, that it is OK to be close to someone and emotionally intimate, and that the latter makes me feel good. It is really different to experience those things firsthand vs. reading about them in a book. In therapy I also look for help with specific problems--because my T has tons of experience and good ideas--but a big value of therapy for me is just experiencing a healthy way of being and relating.