So I'm seeing this new t and it's a totally different experience for me.

My previous t was an older woman, in her sixties. Maternal, gentle, yet firm and insightful and an I-know-exactly-what-needs-to-be-done attitude. Felt very safe knowing I'm in the hands of a very skilled worker. When she and I started working, she said she 'has her work cut out', kind of made me feel secure in her knowing she has a 'plan'...

Looking back, I can see her plan consisted of allowing for my thoughts and opinions, asking questions that would help me become aware of my internal states, pointing out where my actions were not in keeping with my needs and wants, and on and on and on....

I related to her as the mother figure in whose presence I can act out and she provided that corrective emotional experience for me. Unlike my birth mother, who, if I made myself heard I was told to shut up.

So this new t, she's young. She's like 40'ish. And her face looks young. I can't relate to her as a mother figure, cuz she just isn't old enough to fit that image.

But I found that the mother image helped me work through transference issues related to mother.

So now that I have a t who is not even ten years my senior, I am having a hard time orienting myself to the process of therapy with her.

I go see her soon, and I am thinking: Should I relate to her as a friend, and then whatever transference issues come up in that kind of friend-relationship, will be dealt with? I'm confused. Somehow, having a younger t is disorienting to me. Don't know how to view her. I have friends in real life, and there's very few transference issues bet. us.

How about I view her as my 'significant other'? Lots of transference issues come up with a significant other, don't they?

Or do I just let her be herself, and whatever transference issues come up when she acts herself will be dealt with?
Hm..I like that...let her be herself. Not to see her for someone she's not.

Any thoughts on the matter? If I haven't made myself clear, it's because I myself am a bit unclear on this....

I think I will talk to her about this, yet am interested in your own perspectives on this as well.