i again, can't speak for pink, nor would i want to.. she's extremely capable and eloquent. And kim, i hope you understand I'm not being critical, you don't seem to be taking it that way, but i wanted to clarify.

i could be mistaken, but from what i understand of the psychological approach pink seem to engage in... the idea of sexual feelings being present or not are indicators rather than facilitators. In psychoanalysis there seems ( and god, i am NO expert on this) to be a strong interest in exploring self through exploration of the stages of psycho-social, or psycho-sexual development. One moves through the stages seeking the problem areas. Am i wrong on this? If I am correct, then the development or absence of sexual feelings would indicate a deeper progression. I hope pink can clarify this.

also.. i am reminded, due to my own beliefs, of tantric practices... not tantric sex, which tangential really. The joining of two minds is a powerful and awareness-bringing experience. The reason it is used sexually is because it can awaken sexual feelings as the mind grapples (spell?) with the degree of depth it faces. It can be very scary and very rewarding mentally. i see sexual feelings as so secondary and incidental to the larger process.

OTOH, yes, BOTH need awareness and great care. Particularly considering the power dynamic. My caution to them both is to not fall into the trap of the sexual feeling aspect at all.. it's not really important or helpful. It's a distraction of the mind... the same is true in deep meditation practice, one can become extremely aroused or angry or just about anything.. during long practice i mean... but one must move through that.

Should a T disclose personal feelings? Sexual ones? I think that answer is as varied as the relationships themselves. i prefer it and have told my T that... we talk about what it means for me when he tells me he is frustrated, for example. i get to work through a real interaction, not just a one-sided one. He has said I am one of maybe two clients with whom he can be that open (and swear if he feels the need ). We have a pretty open working relationship and it is healing for me.

i'm editing because i thought of one other thing... please consider the factor that pink has expressed that she has a deep-seeded fear that her T would be afraid of her and her feelings.. and the expression i read is that the fear of rejection based on sexual feelings is being equated to an overall rejection of her entire being as a whole. It would mean confirmation that she is somehow defective. I think it's a powerful thing to work through.

i'm more interested in pink's feeling surrounding the interaction, etc, than whether it should or should not have occurred.

cheers