Now, having been on "that" side of things and ended things w/my former T, I won't liken a therapeutic to a "real-life" relationship again. I think I wanted to believe that, simply because I was attached, but after all is said and done, she takes off her work face and goes home to her family and loved ones, while I long for her back in my regular life.

It's a business relationship. A transaction. The relationship stops, usually, when the money does. Just like with a business relationship, there can and probably are some mutual pleasantries. I like my hairdresser, we have a great time while I'm there, but I've yet to ever hang out with her. My aunt has been the manager at the same bank for over 15 years; her customers remember her b-day, anniversary and bring her gifts for those occasions and holidays, but she's only hung out with one customer and that ended poorly, so she refrains from doing it again. We were talking about how she's friendly and jovial with her customers and she does care about them and would notice if they stopped coming in, but she's not friends with them. There's the duality in that...you can be friendly, notice their presence, but still not be part of their usual life.

It's an odd situation, when I focus too much on it and when I try and dissect the relationship with my ex-T...things get blurry and hazy and bleed over into each other. The relationship is complex.

That's my opinion and perception.