I am rather new here, this is my first post. But I have read a lot in this forum and it has helped me in many ways. So first of all, thank you to all you brave people in here for being so honest and open and helpful to us out there who may struggle with similar challenges in our life!!

Here is my question.. I am 30 years old and I suffer from PTSD. I have suffered 16 years of severe sexual abuse and violence and even now as an adult this man is obsessed with me. I move a lot. Despite that, I have turned out to be quite okay :-) I have a good career which I love, I am able to have (somewhat) healthy relationships and I have a genuine love for people, especially those who are vulnerable.
I entered therapy 3 months ago and even though I was horrified that I might have to see a few therapists before finding one that is a good fit, I stuck with the first therapist I saw. She is kind, caring and very helpful. I saw her a few times and I told her my story, which was so very important to me. I could sense that she was going easy on me with asking questions so I told her to challenge me and not treat me with silky gloves. Since then I have achieved so much and I genuinely believe this woman has saved me.
She saved me especially with some things that I seem to read a lot about in here.
The things that seem very controversial! For example, she tells me that she can hold my hand, if it will help me. (I never said yes, but I feel comforted that she feels this is appropriate or helpful) When I am in distress, I text or email her and she responds within a short time with encouraging words. She tells me about her faith, which we share. She just seems to be the best of the best and for me she is a life saver. I do not feel any transference, I am very clear about boundaries, hers and mine and I have a very good sense about when I might be in danger of overstepping boundaries etc. My therapist tells me that she thinks I am an amazing survivor. She tells me I am on her mind in between sessions. She makes me feel absolutely safe and cared for. She advocates for me.

But here is the thing.. A couple of very good friends think, that my therapist "cares too much". They think she is too attached to me or I am too attached to her etc. That she shouldn't have feelings for me.. (You know what I mean, not the sexual kind of course!) It hurts me to hear that, because how can something that is so helpful to someone like me, be bad in someone else's eyes? All my life I had to struggle and now that I find I have help it seems it bothers some people.. Am I too attached? Is it wrong for my therapist to have genuine feelings toward me? Is it wrong for her to care so much?

I mean, wouldn't everyone want a therapist like her? I don't get it.. Or am I just not clear about what therapy is? Should I re-examine my therapeutic relationship with her, even if she helps me heal? I feel it makes me angry that so many people have criticism for therapists who treat patients well and go above and beyond for a healing result. I don't feel like a wallet filler, I feel like a respected client.

Thanks in advance for all your thoughts on this..