Sometimes posters on PC mention receiving special treatment or attention from their therapist. I am wondering how common this is, and what form the special treatment takes, or how common offers of it are? Was it useful to the client or a source of harm? Is it done as a matter of course by therapists (to make the client feel special), or for clients who are in crisis?

"Special treatment" is being defined as something that the therapist normally does not offer to clients - e.g., touch, (extensive) out-of-session contact - or something that violates their licensure requirements (e.g., doing therapy across state lines if that's banned by their licensing board). I'm also kind of defining it as something meant or claimed by the therapist to be positive for the client.

I don't mean things I would regard as part of a therapist's job, such as listening attentively.