I’m apparently defining “therapeutic relationship” and “relationship with the therapist” differently from most of you. They are not synonymous. One is with the therapist in their space as a therapist and is a tool for the client to use to reach the goal for which they are in therapy (not a goal of therapy), the other is outside that space with them not as a therapist.

So, yes, if someone is in long-term therapy, the therapeutic relationship is not necessarily “temporary.” But a relationship with the therapist is still not the goal of the therapy.

I’ve taken up too much of LT’s thread with my unappealing semantics and theories. However, I do have a newsletter and it is printed beautifully on fading carbon paper...subscribe!

Over to you, LT...what happened with trying a female therapist?