I am male by the way, in college. Had about 9 sessions with a therapist, and felt we really connected. I felt she really started to care for me. I felt like I had truly made a friend, and outside of the sessions, she was really the only person I wanted to talk to (we never talked or saw each other outside of sessions. I just felt like she was the only person I would want to talk with. and still feel that way). At the end of our last session, she told me she "didn't do this often" but she told me to call her later on down the road, because she said she would be interested in hearing how things are going for me. I told her I'd love to, and asked if I could get a hug from her before I left (for good), and she gladly accepted. To be honest I was worried about this for a long time, shifting back and forth between it seeming appropriate or inappropriate. I'm so glad I went for it though. And well. therapy is over. I'll probably never see her again and I just feel really shitty now.
That's the therapist's job, to make the clients trust them and open up to them. Thats what therapy is, emotional expression.
Schedule and appointment and tell her you know the patient/therapist relationship is inappropriate and ask if you might take her to dinner in a social context and not as a patient. Do it or forever be a wimp and speak your peace.
I'm going to take this as not being sarcasm... but I was planning on it. I simply cannot process the whole fact that this was JUST therapy. That she was never my friend. That some stupid ethics code prevents her from ever being my friend. I feel this is absolutely dehumanizing. I'm not asking to sleep with her or date her. Of course I would love to, but it's not what I'm asking for. I would really just like to get to talk to her outside of the office, because I just can't stand the idea of ok the sessions are over. You mean nothing to me personally. Good riddance for life.