I've never had an advocate before, in the way he means it, with no strings attached. It was very touching when he told me he was my advocate, and it helps me keep my bearings when I feel upset, judged, or threatened by something that comes up in therapy. He used to become a foe if I got scared or couldn't recover from a session and was dysregulated for hours. This one idea of who he wants to be really helped.

. Shame and those attendant feelings that come from being a little kid in bad adult hands sometimes mean you don't have a sense of self, never mind advocate for yourself. For people who are hard on themselves or blame themselves for things out of their control, it can be life affirming or even lifesaving to have your T advocate for you even if it is to your adult self about your past self . It is like role modeling. If I tell my T I feel guilty bc of xyz , he is likely to argue my case to myself. ( Unless I genuinely screwed up and then he will take a different path).