I am not surprised at the negative reactions many therapists may have internally in response to ET disclosure from clients, whether it is to being the object of sexual desires or not knowing what to do with it. I imagine it can be perceived as one of the most intrusive admissions they may hear, more than parental transference, anger, disappointment, etc.

I would also love to read reports that explore both the Ts and client's side in the same situation. I imagine that it would not be super accurate though, if for nothing else, because these case studies are usually done and get published in retrospect, about older cases, not ongoing ones. And reviewing these experiences looking back probably distorts a lot, people do not feel about it the same way or even recall many momentary feelings and reactions. I know this is the case for sure about my own ET experiences in the past with mentors (and later as a mentor, from my students, because I got a good bunch of that, too). What I tend to remember most vividly later is a much more distilled, clean version and mostly the lessons and conclusions from it, not so much the ongoing pain and variety of emotional reactions in the moment in detail. I think journaling the process can help with more accurate recall.

But even in this thesis, which is all about ET, there is no mention of how it can actually be used and "worked through" in therapy, what benefits etc. I really think that in most cases the ET comes up at some point, discussed to a certain extent, and then dissipates. Or has a vax and vane pattern, but never becomes the main focus of deep exploration. And the interpretations (if any) remain very superficial and generic, such as it is part of the client's craving attention and love they never received from caregivers etc. I think that often it is more than that and has elements similar to any romantic/sexual attraction, about personal identity (identification), sense of self, the desire to merge with own projections etc. Perhaps if therapists approached it more in an intrapersonal (for the client) rather than interpersonal way, they would be able to remain more objective, less uncomfortable, and more creative with it? Maybe more helpful even in the context of building self esteem and self care skills in the moment instead of grieving old things and what obviously cannot be, endlessly. Don't know, just speculating.