Quote BudFox: "Wow they are vastly different to me. Other relationships allow for shared intimacy and shared vulnerability. If you ask a question of a person with whom you have a real world relationship, you at least have a fair chance of an honest answer. With a therapist it is often unclear whether a question should be asked at all, let alone whether the answer will be genuine. Seems like many therapists are masters of evasion and obfuscation."

Having read this forum for about 3 years, I'm not convinced that other relationships allow for shared intimacy and shared vulnerability for many people on this forum. This forum does that for many, myself included. But are we really risking much behind our keyboards? Most people here do not have those relationships, because of bad beginnings or their attachment styles causes similar kinds of ruptures that happen in therapy, whether it be friends, kids, lovers...I believe therapy can help some learn how to be more intimate and vulnerable in these relationships. I have some, and I'm still feeling my way around, even though some of those strong relationships go back 30 plus years. I am at the point of what I shared with my therapist, and on this forum I share with intimate friends. So, I have to disagree that in a "real world" relationship you at least have a chance for an honest answer. How many times have you stopped yourself from asking an intimate friend or good friend a question? For me, it was all the time. Even still. It's a learning process. I personally got what I consider to be honest answers from my therapist, because I learned how to not fear asking the questions. But of course, my therapy was a tad different than most.

Also, I have to disagree that any relationship, including parent/child, is unconditional though we may try. I would not be on this forum if my parents accepted me no matter what. If was my therapist that did that as best she could that helped me to move forward, and away from my bitterness.