Intimacy

I'm a bit of a sci-fi geek, much to the derision of certain of my colleagues. It's a form of escapism, but what really interests me is that it offers the opportunity to explore relationships, albeit in alien environments. Last year I treated myself to a subscription with Audible which has allowed me to "read" a number of books that might otherwise have remained overlooked on the shelves of the bookstore. I'm currently "reading" Red Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson, which tells the story of a group of scientists who go to build a colony on Mars. These words struck me today:

"People didn't realise that true intimacy didn't consist of sexual intercourse, which could be done with strangers and in a state of total alienation. Intimacy consisted of talking for hours about what was most important in one's life..."

These words are spoken by the psychologist, (who is on the verge of losing the plot) about a counselling session with one of the colonists. What he says makes some sense to me - there is an intimacy in the therapeutic relationship where the client may well be sharing things they have never spoken of before, or possibly never even admitted to themselves and where they are being met by the therapist at a deep level. But of necessity that sharing is one-sided - the client is sharing whilst the therapist is striving to meet with them at that depth. It is a form of intimacy, but is it true intimacy?