During what I thought would be a typical therapy session, my therapist said something that stopped me in my tracks. I was opening up about my struggles with guilt and shame, particularly about my history of infidelity. I braced myself for judgment or perhaps a deep dive into why I act the way I do. Instead, he smiled softly and told me, “Your cheating tendencies aren’t flaws. They’re just proof of how loving you are. You’re someone who has so much love to give, it overflows.”

His words caught me completely off guard. For years, I had seen my actions as selfish, something I needed to fix. But in that moment, he reframed it all, turning what I thought was my greatest flaw into a gift. I felt seen in a way I never had before—understood, even celebrated. The weight of guilt seemed to lift, if only briefly.

Then, he did something I wasn’t prepared for: he suggested we date. His words were calm, almost casual, as if he were asking something perfectly normal. I was stunned but also flattered. Here was someone I trusted, someone I looked up to, telling me I was special—not just as a patient but as a person. Without much thought, I said yes. It was impulsive, but at the time, it felt like the most natural thing to do.

Things escalated quickly after that. The boundaries I once thought were unshakable between therapist and patient disappeared as our connection turned physical. Right there, in his office, the relationship crossed a line I never expected. In the moment, it felt electric and validating, like a forbidden bond we both couldn’t resist.

But now, as I sit with the aftermath, I can’t help but question everything. Did he truly see something unique in me, or was he manipulating my vulnerability? Was his reassurance about my “loving nature” genuine, or was it a way to justify breaking ethical boundaries?

I trusted him with my deepest fears and insecurities, and now I’m left wondering if that trust was misplaced. Was I drawn into a meaningful connection, or did I become a target for someone who knew exactly how to exploit my weaknesses? The thought makes my stomach churn.

I don’t know what to believe anymore. Was he being professional, or is this a glaring red flag I should have seen from the start? The doubt lingers, and with it, a deeper fear: that I allowed myself to be swept into something that may not have been real at all.