learning - we use mirroring here both with the crisis center and on the mental health unit. unlike what another poster stated mirroring isnt used around here to gain a clients likeness of us or rapport. many of our clients have stuffed their feelings, shut their self off from their feelings for their survival, to fit in with the crowd that thinks showing certain feelings is for sissies and because they have been trained to accept being abused without emotion. example many of our clients were raised with the abuser giving them something to cry about if they cried or protested.

there are many therapy approaches that teach using mirroring to help the client put a word, or idea to how they are feeling. mirroring is also a great exercise in building a clients self esteme and self worth.

example many survivors of sexual abuse can sit in therapy and tell all about the trauma they went through without any emotion in their voices. you ask them how something made them feel they say they felt nothing. but yet their body language and facial expression says something different.

when that happens we show them what their body language and facial expressions are telling us by taking on that same posture and expression. when they realize how we look they pay attention to their own posture and facial expressions. this puts them back in touch with their own feelings once again.

talk with your therapist ask them why they are doing it. they may just be doing it to point out to you how you appear to them in turn get you to reconnect with your own body and emotions.