It seems a few people have that perspective; mine is quite different.

My T encourages free association; to just say what's on my mind. I also tend to leave behind the *shoulds* (or should not) in therapy because we work in an exploratory way.

Not putting restrictions on myself helps me discuss the truth of my thoughts and motivations and curiousities which allows me to sort of discover who i am while unlearning who I *should* be.

Therapy is a safe place for me to express my thoughts and feelings. I had no healthy self expression experience or encouragement of it during childhood-nothing positive-so expressing myself in a relationship and navigating through it is part of my work.