Of course on the surface there is differences... but there is differences in all types of "real" relationships.

For instance... we pay our dog's vet... and yet I've known him 13 years. He is amazingly good to me and my dogs. He allows me to contact him anytime, day or night, via text or email with questions, he invites us to dog events his company will be at, he has come to their puppy birthdays etc, that is a very "REAL" relationship but it' still a person we have paid before and our talks are mostly limited to dogs but he means a lot to us and he has said many times we are like family to him

That being said, the thing the relationships can and do have in common is the emotions. I believe its absolutely possible to feel a REAL genuine connection with your T, especially if they are allowing outside contact and they are telling you things about them etc, if you share things in common with someone, its easy to feel a connection. When you share your deepest emotions/secrets with someone, its easy to feel an emotional connection.

Paid/limited services or not, the emotions for many clients are REAL and it can actually hurt as much as losing a good friend or family member, just like losing a pet for some, is the end of the world to them. I'd never downplay someone's emotions on losing someone, regardless of who it is.

Some T's are actually caring people, they do check in with clients and let them know they are supported and cared about, yes they get paid but I still believe that many of them are actually decent human beings who care deeply about their clients.

Also, some people don't have real meaningful relationships, even with family or friends... so what are they supposed to compare it to? How can we tell them it isn't REAL just because there is money involved? Makes no sense to me.