My t has shared quite a lot about her personal life, she will share things if they relate to what I am saying or sometimes if it reminds her of something that happened to her. Because my therapy is very relational t is not a blank slate and I wouldnt be able to work with a t that was. By t sharing and treating this like a real relationship has enabled me to make changes in my own personal relationships.
She is very open, I never pry into her life and have only asked her about her mother once because she had said something the following that made me think they had a turbulent relationship. I admire her openness and honesty, she has never lied to me and his has been healing for me because all of my other ts had lied and deceived me in some way. I know about ts family and sometimes her husband is in the front garden cutting the grass when I arrive, I know they separated for a number of years and t went through a great sadness and depression herself. Sometimes she doesnt get it right but she can always listen and hear when I have something to say. At times she has admitted to a mistake when I havent felt it was a mistake and we support the relationship together.