Yep, the relationship is the most important aspect for me too. I never ever would have thought that would be the case beforehand - I thought it would be more an intellectual thing that I could 'win' with a therapist I got on well with.

I suppose I had a vague idea before that if I clicked with the T, it would be enjoyable to be in the therapist's company, and lead to general warmth and all the rest, kind of like with teachers and lecturers I have admired and really liked and got on with. So while I always knew I'd have to have good rapport, I was not expecting to actually love my therapist the way I do, and how restorative that love is. I lurked on PC a while before joining and used to read about people loving their Ts and shudder and think 'Ew!' Now I have to eat my words