I think it really has to do with the level of emotionality that one can handle, as well as boundaries

That's what I was thinking.

Just like little kids (at some point) have to learn how to handle stuff on their own and not run to their mothers, T's want us to learn how to handle a crisis in-between sessions so we aren't dependent on them? I don't know, just thinking out loud.

I also think it depends on the T and the issues that are being worked on. At the beginning of T I was an absolute mess. She would schedule my appointment so there would be no one scheduled after me in case we went over the time.

And if we were working on difficult stuff she would always ask, as I was crawling out the door, to call if I needed to come in again or needed to talk. And a lot of times I did.

She often told me to "check in" and leave a message just to let her know how I was doing. Especially after leaving a session to make sure I got home safely.

This went on for the first year until I was able to stand back up on my own. Now I see her twice a month...after 10 long years.

BUT--it always seems just as I stand on my own two feet and brush myself off, "something wicked this way comes" and knocks me down.