Yeah, my experience is similar to Starry's.

Former T -- 15 months of weekly sessions and I just couldn't trust her or form a real connection.

Current T -- yeah, first session and the connection was such that I landed in emotional places that I didn't think even existed within me. It was intense enough to really scare the crap out of me. A few sessions in and I'm trying to tone down the intensity in terms of my own emotional state but it takes conscious effort to do that because my default would be to just slip back there.

The weird thing is that current T actually feels much more boundaried and therapist-y than former T ever did. I never forget that current T is a T i.e., that I don't have to care about her feelings and she can take care of herself and still hold the space for me. I never had that sense with former T -- mostly felt like I had to be careful that I don't tread on her emotions.

And, in terms of connection type stuff, current T doesn't do any of the social chit-chat or the sort of irritating overly-trying-to-bond kinda stuff that other Ts I saw did (E.g. asking me detailed questions about my work, motherland and so on although I didn't bring it up). So, I think it's mostly that she seems to be really skilled in doing whatever Ts do to foster a connection with a client. Also, she and I actually have very little in common (demographically speaking and I'm pretty sure in terms of interests etc) -- so, she's working with very little and still seems really solid in terms of her ability to develop a connection.