Friends with your therapist?
My first experience with a therapist in college was an interesting one. We connected really well, but it was like we were friends, our sessions became fun conversations between friends. After her internship at my school was done, she still counseled via emails, I really felt cared for. Eventually the contact stopped and I found myself in dispair, taking the liss of contact personally. In hindsight, I realized that I felt that I had lost a friend, not a therapist, as they can hurt in different ways. I hadn't made as much progress with her as I do with my current therapist.
I realize that everyone's different and has had different experiences with therapists. I want to know if anyone else has been in a situation where the felt they were close to their therapist, or was even friends with their therapist. How did it work out with you? Did it help you or harm you?
@Shadeshack
I think there should be a professional distance between you and your therapist. They should be easy to talk to, like a friend. To have a somewhat personal relationship with your therapist can be harmful, cuz of things like you mentioned, them leaving, and also the potential that they may tell you something you don't want to hear.
@YourTearsAreDelicious
I agree. There should be a level of comfort, but has to be a boundary. Thanks for your response!
@Shadeshack
You're welcome. Good luck on your progress 
@YourTearsAreDelicious
That is a very important reminder for the listener-member relationship here on 7cups, too!
@Shadeshack
Hello,
It can be very easy to fall into a friendship with your therapist because we are sharing such personal information with our therapists that we may only usually share with friends. However, therapy best works when there is a professional relationship between the two individuals. This is because the therapist's job is to give you tools in order to help you be able to support yourself through the situations and if you are friends then they may be avaliable at all hours which means you will not be using the resources you learnt.
You also mentioned the fact that your sessions ended up more like a conversation with a friend - which can help some people but also be harmful for others. Therapy is a time for you to offload and get resources that you may need in order to help you cope with pressures in life. If this becomes more like a friendship this could limit the amount of time you get to learn new resources and offload. Therapy is meant to be all about the service user so it is important for the therapist to take a backseat approach and let the individual lead the conversation.
Of course, you should feel comfortable with your therapist and be able to share information with them comfortbly so that they are able to help you - however there has to be a professional boundary aswell so that they are best able to help you - and also prevent the upset caused in situations like yours when the therapist has to leave.
I hope that you are doing ok and I wish you the best of luck with the future :)
I hope that I have been a bit helpful and If you have any other quesitons, then please feel free to ask 
@interestingMagic64
Thanks for your thoughtful response! I agree that a relationship like that could be harmful in some cases and prevent the clients from getting the resources they need. I've learned my lesson, but it still weighs on my mind every now and then. Have a great day!
A relationship between a therapist and yourself is very unique.
They want you to be comfortable, yet they maintain a pofessional side. It's a professional friendship. Similar to a teacher and a child.
@StandUp
That is a very true response!!!
Confidence but not exactly friendship
I can relate to the original post with a similar experience. I found that I was susceptible to "transference" of emotional clinging and need with a therapist with my similar age and gender. I spent time in fantasy that this wonderful person would be the oppsite of my bad relationshiop at the time , and if only WE were together, everything would be perfect. Of course, that was not true and I eventually saw that and avoided that trap in the future. The answers here are all helpful, and I am also glad that things are better now for you.
