Agree these things are gray, not black and white. And I don't mean to imply anything about your situation.

But speaking generally, exploitation done with caring words is still exploitation. Actions speak louder than words.

All a therapist has to do with is show some emotion, or say they care, thus manipulating the unconscious of the client/victim, and they are off the hook, no consequences.

Therapists answer to no one.

The general public will back therapists because the general public is guided by herd mentality. And the therapy community will bend over backward to give therapists the benefit of the doubt in order to sustain belief.

Driving down the therapist's street might constitute a violation of the therapist's boundaries, but baiting you into emotional dependency/attachment in a context where it is absolutely inappropriate is a much larger violation, and is the one that sets the table for all the problems that follow.

Therapy IS a violation.