My T used to call me "Kiddo" at the end of our session. I didn't consider it a term of endearment, nor did I find it condescending. We were about the same age, though she was clearly more mature. I just took it as her way of being kind of casual and friendly and wanting to lighten the atmosphere. I was fine with it.

I always sent her a Holiday card, as I did with my dentist. I'ld say "thanks for your support over the past year." I didn't expect to get one in return. We didn't do hugs or handshakes. If I broke down in tears, as certainly happened occasionally, she was very appropriately kind. I saw her over a span of many years. I thought she was likely as good as it gets. I don't think seeing her changed the trajectory of my life, not even one little bit. When I finally voiced that, she became very defensive and said things very critical of me. I never went back. I had exhausted what I was capable of getting out of the process. I still think well of her and would recommend her to anyone.

From what I read on the forums here, a lot of therapy clients seem to be deeply invested emotionally in their relationships with their Ts. I never felt that way. I was neither all that lifted up, nor hurt, by the feedback I got in therapy. I never saw where therapists understood my life any better than I did myself. I respected the ones I stayed with for any length of time, or I wouldn't have gone back. But I never imagined that therapists were going to be a source of the love and friendship that was elluding me in life. I wasn't curious about their personal lives. I wasn't craving their personal approval of me. I expected them to have some positive regard and respect for me. But I was mainly looking for help in critiquing my approach to life which obviously wasn't working for me. I was certainly not looking for someone to slather me with reassurances of "It wasn't your fault." I didn't have a miserable childhood. Life had given me lots of opportunity, which I routinely squandered.

I liked the Ts well enough. I spent a small fortune on them. I didn't get much out of seeing them. I don't think I would ever go to a T again. My response is a littke off topic, I guess.