As I said in the other thread, I originally "respected" my therapists because of the professional "authority" their credentials indicated. I ascribed certain qualities to them. They played shamanic roles with me, affecting wisdom they really didn't have, counterfeiting an omniscience they of course never possessed.

So my "respect" was based on fear, mesmerization and intimidation as opposed to honest regard between two sincere people. As I gradually realized the relationship wasn't working, the co-therapists did everything in their vicious powers to bully me into staying. Leaving --which I did completely without their help--was like separating from a cult.

Relationships inevitably have subtle subtexts often inevident even to the participants. Relationships are complicated.

How lucky you are that your relationships are so clean and functional that there's never ambivalence.