That is great Sunny! I'm glad he soothed you. I don't think you were projecting, I'm a believer that not everything that happens in the therapy room is about defense mechanisms or transference.

My T loves it when I tell him that! I believe that at times, they are being genuine.

For example, last session I talked to T about how I fantasize that after therapy is all done, we can stay in touch. I told him that I realize this is fantasy and he said there is nothing wrong with that.

He also said "do you think you would like me outside of here?" he also said that he has his own family and friends and right now our conversations are all about me but it isn't that way in friendship. Then he gave me two stories of doctors who became too friendly with their patients and ended up neglecting their overall health (these were MD's not therapists).

Anyway, I said sure I would like you. Unless you've been playing some part in a play for the last two years, I think I've experienced you being genuine with me. We've had conversations about how well we connect, get along and laugh.

My point in telling you this is that there are times when are T's are being real and genuine with us. My problem is I try to take that a step further by believing he also wants to stay in touch later on.

Now that is projection!!!! I'm working on it.