I developed strong feelings for one therapist. It was immediately labeled transference. This did not normalize anything. It was still warped and toxic. This kind of unrequited clinical love might be common in therapy, but that does not mean it's healthy or natural.

People often talk about the shame they feel in this situation, which says it all. Some clients are totally infatuated with the therapist, and meanwhile the therapist views the client with detachment and indifference, as one customer among many. There is an implied rejection and it's experienced over and over. It's a recipe for shame and humiliation.