[m_fayer]

I like the analogy to body maintenance.

I think we should just admit that therapists have two modes - an acute mode for treating the mentally ill, and a "personal trainer" mode. With the latter, therapists do the same for the mind that personal trainers do for the body: they teach you to feel and occupy your mind so you best know how to gain strength, avoid injury, and move with economy and grace. They catch bad postures and minor twinges before they lead to strain and injury. They identify and strengthen weak points in order to keep the whole thing in balance.

You can live without a therapist-trainer just like you can live life without a personal trainer. But those lucky enough to have one will live a life with less injury and hardship, and have accomplishment and contentment within easier reach.

People in "life-long therapy" tend to be the objects of ridicule. But IMO many of them (maybe unconsciously?) are actually onto something - that lifelong therapy is actually a pretty good idea. Maybe they keep coming back not because they are self-involved and enjoy drama, but because they've found that, even though they can do without just fine, they do much better with.

[nyxtom]

I have an awesome therapist that I see on a regular basis. Much of the conversations range from your everyday emotional highs and lows to diving deeper into the neuroscience of behavior and activating memories. When you approach emotional experience with the full depth that your mind brings to it, you can begin to understand what drives you; but more importantly, at least for me, it creates a tremendous amount of grace and compassion towards how you treat yourself. It has taught me to allow myself to feel compassion for when I am angry, or sad, even overly optimistic and happy. But more importantly I understand the value of impermanence, and repairing and reconciling the issues (issues btw which can be positive experiences as well, not just negative experiences) we face with each other and ourselves.

[m_fayer]

I'd also add to your list of value that you begin to understand, embrace, even love the full depth of human fallibility/frailty. Sounds like you have a good thing going.