My therapist says the process has a natural ebb and flow and it's alright to just chat, for me to just want to feel connected to her, because I tell her sometimes it's just comforting to talk to her. I usually do a lot of hard, heavy, fast work in therapy, and sometimes, I must take a step back and give myself a little respite along this tiresome journey. We've talked a little about shows, art, psychology in general, our hobbies, etc. She is open about her life to a certain point. I know the outline of her relationship history and am glad she'll share. Rather than negatively influencing the therapy, I find she can mentor me a little because of our similarities, and that I feel safer and happier knowing she trusts me enough to share and that we are both two real, feeling people, she's not the completely invulnerable, enlightened person she seems like sometimes, ha.