I’m seeing a male psychodynamic therapist for issues that that at least right now are “mother issues.” In brief, I haven’t spoken to my mother for a year (my choice) because she is difficult and not emotionally available at all. We’ve had a lopsided relationship for a long time and I’ve catered to her pretty much nonstop until about a year ago when I decided I couldn’t do it any more and cut off ties. That’s also about the time that I started therapy. I expected my therapist to push me to reestablish contact with her, but instead he’s validated my decision to cut off contact and has told me that my mother is “difficult.” I’m a grown up, so I feel like at least in part I should not really need a mother, but I’m realizing that maybe there is a loss there for me. Anyway, I suppose these “mother issues” should have been obvious to me when I entered therapy, but they weren’t. Is it weird to be discussing this with a male therapist? He’s very nice and gentle and non-judgemental and even motherly, I suppose. It just feels a bit odd to confide in him about how I miss having a mom. To be fair, I’d probably have a hard time opening up to anyone about this regardless of their gender. In a way, I feel like I’m talking to him as though he’s a mother figure. Is that weird? Anyone else have this experience?