I HATE when I feel like T knows what I'm talking about but he makes me say it anyway. In fact, I know that there are times that T knows FOR SURE what I want/need, and he won't respond to it unless I say the words. He has told me it's because it wants me to practice asking for what I need...and honestly, I know that is something I had to learn how to do...but it doesn't make it any less annoying, that's for sure.

I think there is something really freeing about being a "brat" in therapy. I know when I was growing up, I *had* to respond to everything in a certain way, or the consequences would be really ugly. Now, sometimes I get the urge to "talk back" to T, and I just do. He can take it. I think he LIKES it...maybe because I'm finding a little bit of power.

I think when we're growing up, talking back to our parents, rolling our eyes, asking "what do YOU know?" are probably our first steps towards finding our SELVES, separate from them. Maybe if we didn't get a chance to do that as we were developing, it needs to happen now? I don't know.

It sounds like you're doing good work, Echoes...all of this awareness is a good thing