what is the therapist's primary role for you?

I picked something specific because her primary goal is to help treat my bipolar disorder.

Because the accepting warm person has the most votes, I have been thinking about whether either of the two I see could be described that way - and no - I find I do not see either of them in that way at all. The second one I guess could be accepting some, but not what I would describe as warm. The first one has described herself as that but where she gets that she is such is beyond me.

Could you find people in your own life SD that were "accepting and warm?" I find that hard to believe that you think warm fuzzies about other people like that

I guess all mine are accepting and warm - in other people's eyes. Or at least I see they are trying to be that way. It's just not what I want them to be.

I am discouraged that answer is so common, though. Should people not be warm and accepting towards each other generally?

I don't it want it from a therapist. I just thought it interesting that so many people think the therapist they hire is like that - particularly when the ones I see are not in any sense of the words.

I don't think so. I do not want warm and accepting from any number of people I come into contact with. I don't particularly want hostile at me either in most situations, but warm and accepting just from random strangers is not something I would want to be usual.

Yeah...but the "warm" part is probably what differs in T's greatly. I think some of it is just personality; some people are naturally more open and warm than others. I wouldn't consider myself to be a very warm person in general, even though I am a preschool teacher to 2 year olds.
Oh I know you don't want it...just didn't know if that was something you use to describe people in general. I don't know what I am trying to say, so i 'll shut up now!

I guess I could have answered "accepting and warm" for my current T, though that wasn't what I went to therapy looking for, but it turns out that it has helped me be able to be much more honest with her because she is SO kind, that it baffles me.

Sure I have some close personal people who I would describe as warm and or accepting.

That is why the other option is there. But I would wonder professional what? What is that they do that is professional?

Hopefully: Be an objective outside source that can point out patterns that aren't working for you in your life, because it can be hard to see when you are in it.

That is my main take on their professionalism. That and keeping their own stuff out of the therapy room as much as possible--enough so that it doesn't harm the client, which we know happesn all the time.

I thought guide sort of covered that - but I know we interpret things differently.

I really couldn't choose a "primary" purpose because that changes as my needs change: sometimes a sounding board, sometimes for very specific guidance/help about very specific things, etc. It varies because I vary.

Substitute mother

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My T was and is so much to me, it was hard to choose! If I had to answer this question 1 or 2 years ago, I probably would’ve said ‘accepting warm person’. He still is that, but his role has changed. Right now, therapy is more about learning to deal with life and getting to know the knew me better. He’s a sparring opponent, a sounding board but I guess most of all a teacher about life.