I can't say I have been harmed by therapy or the "therapeutic relationship". I think this is in part because I got into therapy first at middle age (almost 40), after lots and lots of what I regard as first hand significant life and mental health experience - many different kinds, from high ambition to the lowest of hopes for my own life and sanity, and everything in between.

I personally have never experienced intimacy in therapy. I went into it with an open mind because I read in the literature that it is supposed to be very intimate, engaging, making us experience possibly brand new levels and layers of ourselves. Those things did not happen to me. I also had a great deal of resistance - in part, because of what I read on PC from people who had done therapy way, way longer than me. I think I did really understand how it works - the promise and anticipated potential - all the things abundantly discussed here on PC, expectations, desires going in but rarely out.

As far as intimacy, my own perception and version is that it only occurs for me when it is completely, or very reasonably, balanced and mutual. I can have elaborate and intense fantasies initially, which can drive me to seek out certain people, but quite soon they will dissipate and pretty much disappear if not mutual and balanced. Meaning. basically intimacy, for me, is a two-way construct and cannot work in any other way. Even if I had fantasies and desires, if not reciprocated - I will soon lose interest and it is automatic. I never actually had to learn or develop this consciously - just how I am and experience relationships. Even with you, Ididitmyway, via this message board - I can tell you without any doubt that I am drawn to your posts, opinions, and experiences - most often because a lot of them overlap or at least are compatible with mine. With my values and some of my life experiences as well. But I don't see this as intimacy - it is more being curious, open to experience, willing to listen and consider many sides, also being drawn to someone whose perception tends to be quite deep and complex. Intimacy, for me, is often initiated with this familiarity, but takes much much more to establish and maintain.

I think I experienced what I would describe as "true intimacy for me" before. Therapy, or a relationship with a therapist, hardly even scratched that experience.

I am not against prostitution, I think it serves realistic human needs and a purpose. It is more how it is being done. I never experienced therapy or Ts as emotional prostitution but have no issues seeing how that can be perceived. I did end up employing my Ts mostly as paid routines and conversation partners though. Would not go as deep as friends or intimates, but definitely paid interpersonal substitutes. I stopped therapy mostly because using those substitutes got in the way - my own momentary choices were superficial, in combination with what the therapy construct was (or wasn't) capable of, prevented me from the real deal of exploring life further. And I actually made those avoidance choices myself by paying a very superficial and limited substitute, instead of true exploring, interactions, and trials.