Sorry EF -- sounds like it's a tough therapy moment.

I must say I feel this way fairly often, like I'm wasting a huge amount of my time and energy on it. I think it's a fairly common feeling to come up in such a strange/lopsided/boundary-filled "relationship."

I don't know if it's ultimately true or not (for me). I do know that I spent long periods of my life not in therapy, and I didn't manage to learn some of the things I am learning now. So, I guess it's helpful in some ways. And certainly it feels good/intense/important sometimes. Meh. I guess it's all about finding that elusive balance of where to best put your energy...