I can see how that would hurt, bounceback. That's probably why I'm quite cautious about saying things like that to most anyone in my life, because I don't like it to be one way or to be assuming too much. But I am getting better at knowing it is OK to feel things one way. Like my daughter is very undemonstrative, but I still tell her I love her all the time. I think it is important for her to hear that, and my feelings are not hurt by her lack of response.

Your T said "thank you," which I interpret to mean she is flattered, she is honored, she liked receiving the "gift" of your statement. Those aren't bad things. Maybe it's OK that she said, "thank you"?

Once I hadn't been to therapy for a while and then I went, sat on T's couch, and said, "it seems like so long since I've been here." T responded with, "thanks, I missed you too." I thought that was very sweet. I think he is better at directly saying what he is feeling than I am. When he says things like that, it gives me courage to be more direct and open, like he is. I am trying to improve. Therapy is a good place to practice, I guess. My T has told me he loves me a couple of times, and I immediately reciprocated. I do not think I could outright say that to him unless he said it first, though. I have a history of a long relationship in which I loved the other person and was not loved back, so I am totally phobic of expressing one-way love. Not to mention my childhood. This unreciprocated dynamic brings back very painful memories for me, so I don't unnecessarily recreate it. With my T, I like to think it isn't necessary to say a lot. We are very close and I feel that in my bones. I don't need to say it, especially with the conundrum of our professional relationship. I would just like to enjoy feeling it rather than make it verbal or think about it a lot.