My two cents--I don't think it's ridiculous at all. The therapy relationship is both a completely artificial and totally genuine relationship if done right. It's a bizarre contradiction on a fundamental level, I think.

I know there are differing opinions on being friends with a therapist when the therapeutic relationship ends, and I am all for what works for people. But I really like the point my therapist made in an interview--he studies ethics as an academic speciality, and it's his opinion that once you cross that line from therapist/ client into friendship, it's very difficult/ almost impossible to go back if you wanted to resume therapy. It makes sense to me since so many things in a friendship setting don't apply to therapy. (I would feel awful if I talked nonstop for an hour about myself to a friend.). So to me, that boundary and artificialness of the relationship helps the client, or at least helps me. I think therapists should still be their genuine selves in session, but for me, as lovely as I think my therapist is, I wouldn't want to be friends with him. I value the therapy
relationship too much. I know whenever we do wrap things up (probably not anytime soon), I will need him and to resume therapy in the future when my older parents pass away.