I was wondering about this too. When I think about having an equal friendship with T I feel positive because I can see how it will be, especially when I'm more in 'adult mode' and able to see T as an ordinary person who has faults like everyone else. I can see the possibilities and the strength I will have to walk away from the therapy relationship. But currently I feel like it will be a loss, something to grieve over, the loss of the space and the nurturing. I suspect it means that I'm not ready for the therapy to end and thankfully T is responsible in knowing I wouldn't be either. I suspect it won't feel like a big loss once I've done the work.

I wouldn't recommend being friends with a T either. It's generally frowned upon and with good reason, since there is so much scope for emotional harm. Both parties have to be extremely self aware and done the emotional work for it to even be doable. Even then, I think it could damage what has been done in therapy. I know it's different with me and my current T because of how we are as people, but it's a very rare thing. I wouldn't have entertained the possibility with any other T I've seen despite being extremely attached.