To all, with hope and compassion. We are all here/been there/will be there. Not one success story has ever been recorded of a therapist/patient attraction ending well. I would have rejected that idea myself a few years ago. The rawness, intimacy and vulnerability are heightened by the (usually) mutual attraction, it was intense for me, he spoke of giving up everything to run away with me.
Now, finally, I am relieved. Hurt and scarred, traumatized and lonely. But beyond the point of going back into the quagmire that ruled far too much of my world for way too long. Not happy, far from content.
Please do not read this and consider me a bitter victim, anything but. I knew better, or so I would like to think.
Feeling validated and understood can be far too seductive and many therapists see an opportunity to satiate their own narcissistic egos; and often they don't even realize it. That is why I will not take action. A dear friend is having great and healthy results with him.
He got spun up in his midlife crisis and I think it dovetailed with mine.