I think if the client had had no painful or difficult transference feelings or if they had properly resolved them then after a certain amount of time a friendship could work. I think the passing of time and the way we all change and grow anyway can enable different relationships to evolve naturally where both people find they want it. I don't at the moment think I'd want to be friends with the T I have just left. But I do have a long term friend who just happens to be a therapist. She's a great friend but I wouldn't dream of going to her for therapy!

A lot of T's (maybe most?) have a rule about not forming friendships with ex-clients. Maybe they find the change in their role from being the one with the power to being an equal too confusing.