I think my former marriage counselor was getting something out of being paternal toward me (I had strong paternal transference for him). Yes, he has two kids, but they're teens and likely not listening to him so much anymore. I think he liked being needed by me, like it fulfilled something in him. The problem is, I'm pretty sure that ended up perpetuating and intensifying the paternal transference. Like the transference and countertransference fed on each other. So then when he decided to pull back, it hurt all the more.

I'm not sure about current T. Lately I've gotten a sense of a bit of paternal countertransference, but nothing near the level of ex-MC.