Can we be fixated on changing our therapist, all while enjoying normal and healthy relationships outside of therapy? Is this near obsession likely the maternal transference, or something else?

If you are feeling fixated on changing your therapist, then I would recommend you speak to your therapist about that. There is something coming up for you in that relationship, and I suspect that comes up for you in other relationships as well. Your therapist will help you explore what this fixation means to you and will help you resolve it.

While you’re working on this with your therapist, I see no reason why you can’t have good relationships outside of therapy. Being in therapy should help to make your relationships even better.