Hi Zooropa, Yes, I think this is perfectly normal. In fact, I could have written many of those exact things myself when I first started therapy. I used to get so anxious, like having a physiological reaction, before every single session. It took me a LONG time, but now it doesn't get like that for me. I feel so much more calm about it. I think the answer is just time and getting to know each other and having had worked through difficult stuff together enough that you know everything will be OK no matter what you share with her. Good luck -- I think it will get easier with time.