Rapunzel, I understand what you're saying but it's just not so black and white in the beginning. I do recognize what is appropriate and inappropriate. But, if a person doesn't trust their therapist, of course they won't get hurt, but they don't get anything out of therapy either. The problem is when you're being treated by a sociopath who knows your vulnerabilities, then the potential to be manipulated is very high. I wish that he had just invited me to dinner or hit on me in an obvious way when I first started seeing him, but it doesn't happen that way. It's not that blatant. It started with him talking to me about trust, and then slowly and methodically chipping away at the boundaries. Those who do this are very, very good at it. By the time they make their move, it's already too late - the patient already trusts them. I now understand why they've made this illegal in many states, it completely and totally messes up a person's head.