...In My Little Space...

So I started seeing this really cool therapist in my department. She's like 10 years older than me and just totally gets the grad school grind, all the stress, the endless papers, the way we never feel done at the end of a day. We hit it off right away, intellectually and personally. Fast forward to one session where I was feeling especially vulnerable...I don't know, maybe she saw something in my expression or just sensed how overwhelmed I felt that day? Whatever it was, she suggested roleplaying...a sort-of little space thing as part of our therapy. It seemed weird at first but also like a safe way to vent all the emotional baggage...and then things started getting physical... We never did anything explicit, no sex or actual discipline, just holding hands and cuddling in a protective way. But there was something so incredibly soothing about feeling that adult support during those moments of stress or anxiety. And she'd give me these little tasks to do, like picking up toys or helping with paperwork...which actually made the whole experience feel both playful and grounding. It's hard to explain, but it really did help. Of course there were some awkward moments, I mean, she’s my therapist! We have a professional relationship too. But overall? It was an incredibly positive thing for me and something I wouldn't trade for the world...