@SlumberKitty lots of diverse opinions here from forum members.

The question is, how do you want to address this weird boundary crossing by your therapist with her? Remember, you can't do anything wrong with how you broach the subject because...she's a trained, licensed mental health therapist.

Please don't feel embarrassed. Your professionally trained therapist has blurred the lines between licensed professional and personal friend.

My opinion is that your 73 year old therapist may be lonely and is using your phone therapy sessions unprofessionally; by speaking to you as though you were a close friend or family member. I view it as her taking advantage of your good nature and emotional vulnerability because as her patient, you are emotionally vulnerable since the reason you speak with her is for help with your mental health.

I don't respect therapists who blur the lines like this. They project their own unmet needs, desires, on to their patients who are already victims in a sense. I would find a new therapist.

I once saw a therapist who had multiple suspensions on his record for having sexual relationships with his patients. He tried to groom me but I caught on, and reported him to my state's licensing board immediately and then found another therapist. That's an extreme example but it is a great example of how a licensed, trained professional who has their own problems, easily preys upon their patients who are already in a vulnerable state of mind.

Your therapist may be a lonely old 73 year old projecting her own issues on to you, b/c in your phone therapy conversations you may remind her of a daughter, granddaughter, or friend or niece maybe. Or, she may just be overly friendly and poor with boundaries, and is someone who chooses not to keep her boundaries professional with her patients.

If her actions like sending you that selfie and telling you her birthday, her casual nicknames for you etc. bothers you, it's your right to have your boundaries respected by a trained professional who you entrusted your mental health therapy with. There's nothing wrong with asserting your boundaries with this 73 year old therapist to let her know that her behavior with that selfie etc. bothers you and that you are going to find another therapist, if that's what you want to do.

I'm still learning myself but everyone deserves to have their own boundaries respected by other people. And when other people cross those boundaries, as scary as it feels, we have to speak up for ourselves.