It is unusual, but consider my own relationship. In December, my T decided to hire me to create her website as she was leaving the practice she was in to start her own practice. At the time she said this would be bordering on a dual relationship. I told her I thought it was a dual relationship. Either way, we agreed the therapeutic relationship came first.

In the last 3 weeks, I have learned more about T than I ever thought I would. When meeting with me about the site, she is completely her absent-minded, ADD, non-creative, picky self. She has shared the hurt feelings on both sides of her departure from her prior practice and her vision for her new practice. She has spoken of how tired, stressed, and confused she is. She wondered why she decided to do this at Christmas, when several sequential sets of company stayed with T and H and not one would help with the physical move from old to new office.

Also in the process, I've learned that she is paradoxically vain and self-depreciating. She doesn't understand technology very well. She wants what she wants even when she doesn't know what she wants. She doesn't like aging. Her H gets on her nerves. In other words, she's human.

Do you know how intimate it is to photoshop a person's face? I feel like I know more about her wrinkles than her dermatologist and her teeth than her dentist. We have emailed each other approximately every other day. We texted and spoke on the phone yesterday. While on the phone, I heard her being very sick (weak, little voice, coughing). Friday, she mentioned going to lunch. The lines have blurred.

Is this harmful? I don't think so. In fact, it helps me even more. Here's why:
1. I am far enough along in therapy that I can handle this.
2. I no longer idolize her like I did in the beginning.
3. I am in school to become a T. I now have seen T being a very normal person. So a normal person can be a very effective T.
4. I know I'm relating to a normal person who understands someone dealing with very human issues.
5. I know that a T can effectively minimize negative personal traits for the interest of the client.

So I look forward to the final stages of my therapy journey which will start Wednesday after a four-week break. To each their own as long as nothing illegal or harmful is occurring. Just like doctors, Ts must abide by "do no harm".