Wow, that is SUCH a good analogy.

Your post really jumped out at me, because I had a similar problem with a recent therapist. I told him about my bullying and other episodes in a very painful childhood and adolescence. For the first few months, he flat out didn't believe anything I told him. He kept saying: "I don't buy it!" He said that to me over and over.

I knew something was wrong. There I was, making myself vulnerable enough to enter a therapist's office and open up about extremely painful things - and the guy was flat out dismissing me, even calling me a liar! I was baffled and worried. I called him on it again and again. I asked him if he was genuinely lacking in compassion, and wondered why he was unable to identify with me. He never responded to that, or would just come up with some therapisty crap like, "Why are you asking me that?" I even asked him if what he was doing to me was a therapeutic technique. I figured I could handle that, if I just KNEW that that was what he was doing. But I needed to know. He sat closemouthed, gave me no answer.

I told him I wasn't going to be able to continue therapy unless he started to believe what I was telling him.

We saw each other for a year and a half before I called it off in exasperation. I still don't know what his problem was. I have a good job and a nice husband, and on paper I look great. I'm well groomed and I appear successful. But what do they say in AA - don't just your insides by other people's outsides? Inside I've been dying for years, and I couldn't take it anymore. I knew I needed a therapist's help in exploring old wounds that just wouldn't go away.

The straw that broke it for me was when I told my therapist that I had skipped every high school gym class in order to avoid being bullied there. Fortunately it didn't prevent me from graduating - the office employee said it was too much work for her to deal with it, so she let it go and I got my diploma.

My therapist looked at me and said, "So that was your way of avoiding reality, of avoiding emotion?"

It just shocked me - he was blaming me for trying to avoid the pain of being bullied! I couldn't f'ing believe it. He ALWAYS defended other people in my life, and that was just the last time I was going to listen to him do it. It still blows me away to remember it, and I'm so angry that I didn't tell him to go to hell right then and there. But that was my last session, I never went back.

In your case, Protoform, I'd say it'll be a red flag if your therapist's disbelieving reaction to you continues, and becomes a clear pattern. That's when you should call them on it. You don't have to be aggressive, but just tell them that you're wondering about the lack of understanding. Ask if it's a therapeutic technique that's being used. Say that the technique is making you uncomfortable, and you'd do better with a warmer, less dismissive approach. You could even use the relationship line of, "It's not you, it's me." Say you need your therapist to believe you if your therapy is to continue. Give them a few more chances.

And if they screw up again - TO THE CURB!

Good luck!