Thank you for sharing this. I have found one of the most challenging and beneficial elements of my therapy is direct email exchanges on a variety of topics, including our relationship. I have also discussed how I feel when I do not hear back promptly, what I fear is happening at those times, and been rewarded with honest, reassuring, sometimes unexpected answers, if not always exactly what I hoped to hear. This is definitely part of having a harmonious therapeutic relationship, and my therapist considers it extremely important that I can discuss my feelings about our interaction directly and honestly.

Of course, I consider the relationship a real one, integrated into my life, not just a black box to put secrets or live in one hour a week, and that changes my perspective some. I see therapy as a relationship workshop in a sense, and a reparative relationship too, in my case to have a maternal figure to rely on and react sanely, as well as to do the other work I need to do.

I may have digressed a bit, but just wanted to thank you for a great post.