I'm coming a little late to this thread, but I did want to weigh in on the topic. I too believe that the feelings many of us have in therapy toward a therapist are entirely normal and valuable.

Someone else said that the feelings of erotic maternal transference are the feelings and emotions of a very young part of ourselves, and that is spot on in my mind. I do believe that when we experience those feelings in therapy they are morphed into "adult" sexual feelings because, after all, we are adults. A baby/young child doesn't experience those feelings the same way we do as adults. A baby loves when her mommy changes her diapers and cleans her up, giving her a bath. It is a warm bonding experience with many wonderful body sensations. These feelings and sensations are entirely different than the sexual feelings that adults experience in an erotic situation. Our therapists, hopefully, genuinely care about us and give us their undivided attention during session, a compassionate, empathetic ear, connection and safety. It isn't surprising that many of us find that kind of connection as maternal in nature. The younger part of us revels in the sensations and feelings such a connection evokes.

There is a great essay by Sandor Ferenzi titled: The Confusion of Tongues. He talks about the need of his clients (as children) to experience that caring, empathetic, safe emotions and touch from their parents/caregivers and later their therapists. The problem is, some people/parents/caregivers/therapists confuse the messages that the child is giving with their own adult sexual feelings and needs. It isn't sexual or erotic in the child's mind; it is only understood as sexual or erotic in the adult mind. I know I'm not explaining this very clearly but I find it fascinating, and it explains so much about how confusing and troubling transference can be for people in therapy. I don't think a lot of therapists even get it or are trained well in how to handle it. I think a lot of them get scared and try to ignore it, rather than normalize it and work effectively with it to help their clients move and grow emotionally.