Mouse,

What an absorbing response. I am not as far as you with individuation as i am just now beginning to realize how connected I am to T. I have been seeing him for about 9 months now, but the first 5 or so months were more supportive in nature because of family crises.

I remember the first time he took a week off at Christmas time and I had been seeing him for about 3 months and he said it was going to be difficult and I thought, "What the heck is he talking about?" By the time he came back I wanted to camp out in his office!!

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I feel like the theraputic room is the womb

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I like thinking of the therapeutic room as "the healing room." But I think womb is a more appropriate metaphor.

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When I come away from sessions now I do feel a greater sense of WHO I AM

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Yay Mouse!!! That is wonderful. I'm still searching for me...haven't found her yet.
Why? Although I grew up in a large family, with 2 parents, it was a severely dysfunctional situation. My mother was overwhelmed, father was alcoholic, abusive grandmother, etc. I was alone much of the time.

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instead of looking outside of me to others to depend on,

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Yes, I depend heavily on others--to define me. Working on looking within now.

Yes, when those people fall of the the high pedestal we have placed them on, they look so damned human again, don't they? I just wish I felt more of an individual right now than an empty shell.

Thanks Mouse for sharing this.