So glad the two of you worked that out, treehouse.

I think sometimes our Ts are taken by surprise by our interpretations of their actions and words. That is why it is so important to share our interpretations with them, so they can clarify to us what they meant and also learn something to help them in the future (with both you and other clients). I think a client as honest as you, treehouse, is a great way for a T to grow and learn. When my T says something that slides off me the wrong way, I try to hold in my mind (and heart) the reality of our strong relationship.

Your story from last session reminded me a little of my own last session, so hearing your resolution helped me. Toward the end of my last session, I remembered something I had been wanting to tell T since Christmas. It was something I knew he would be interested to hear, and that we would have a good discussion around it. It was one of things that is in the "sweet spot" of our relationship. So I told him I had just remembered something I had been wanting to tell him and I would tell him next time. He insisted I tell him then, as he wanted to hear it, and he said we had time. Since we sometimes go over our time on session, I thought that meant he had extra time, so I agreed, after he asked me twice. So I told this thing and got very little feedback or comment, and then he said he had to go as he had an offsite appointment and needed to hit the road, and he stood up and started putting his coat on, closed the window blinds, etc. I felt very robbed by that--I had not gotten the good feelings I know would have ensued if we talked longer about it. And I felt like he wasn't trustworthy, as he had urged me to share it, and I had believed we had enough time, as he had implied. So I learned from that to trust my own gut and not to bring up something near the end of session, even if T says I should. I know he didn't mean for me to feel this way, as he cares about me a lot and our relationship is strong. I see this confirmed, in a way, for me, in your own description of your T's reaction, Treehouse. I know my T isn't your T, tree, but somehow what you wrote helped me. My T just had a clumsy moment.