Is my [35 F] therapist "grooming" [16 M] me or is this behavior normal?

I've read some of the other replies, and I think the suggestions of reporting her are going a bit too far, especially when she's done nothing but show nice behavior. Also, it might simply make her feel good to have someone like you as a friend who she can trust and be more open with. It's not uncommon for teachers or school workers to form close friendships with students, for some people it makes them feel young again and makes their job more enjoyable rather than acting like all students are enemies and should be avoided.

To OP: These said actions may be blurring the lines of professionalism, but she is inexperienced; and these actions could be misinterpreted as being something more when they're really just an awkward attempt at therapeutic bonding. Perhaps her behavior could be reigned in a little bit.

The attempts at physical closeness could be about strong platonic attachment. It may even be that she is still trying to deal with the aftermath of the attack with the foster child and that is making her overly self conscious. And yet she still doesn't know how to maintain appropriate distance. It could be that she has felt you needed this level of reassurance that her care is genuine without realizing the other repercussions and possibility of misinterpretation.

You seem surprised that therapists, human beings, are capable of having emotions. Her concern for you moving was probably due to the fact that she was worried about your mental health and didn't want anyone to finish the work she'd already started, a tricky topic in this field of work. As for the older women comments, albeit unprofessional, they still seemed to be made in jest. She also even expressed concern about your encounter with the 24 year old, proving that she does see wrong with it.

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