I understand the need to please the people around you. The relationship that you described with your mother is very similar to the dynamic between my father and I. Funny enough, I too act this out with RoboT to an extent. But a million times what SD said. At the end of the day, we can only live for ourselves. I think that intrinsic acceptance is so much more valuable than extrinsic approval.

That said, I was moved by the quote in the OP. It helped to put my last session into perspective. I was wrought with emotion, but it felt oddly good. It's because RoboT was using the friction in the therapeutic relationship to try and help me cope with some of my attachment issues. Thanks for posting [emoji4]