dragonphoto, I had a female counselor first, then a male therapist. I also occasionally meet with a female child specialist about my kids, and she is a therapist. I find each one has something to offer. I do feel especially close to my current therapist, the male. I'm not sure I could achieve that degree of intimacy with a woman. I think that my marriage has been really wounding, and having a positive and close relationship with a male in therapy has been very healing for me. I never really connected with my first female counselor, but I do connect with the child specialist. So I guess for me, some of it has to do with the individual, rather than their gender.

My first counselor took notes every session. My current T does not take notes at all. It has never bothered me. Except for one session, he took out a notepad and started writing on it. It freaked me a little! Why now? I asked him why he was taking notes, and he said because this is really important. Hmmm, not sure how I felt about that. He has never done it since then.