I think each person has different needs when it comes to the emotional reactions of their T. Some people need a blank slate that doesn't reflect anything back at them and others need honest emotional responses.

For me, I need my T to show honest, appropriate emotional responses, because I need to see that having an emotional response and displaying that response is okay. I appreciate that she isn't a blank slate and can give me emotional feedback. In my family of origin, expressing anything other than happy emotions was completely unacceptable, so it's helpful for me to see someone model appropriate expression. Plus, it makes my T easier to connect with and trust when I feel that she's being honest with me.

T's are human, and should be expected to feel all kinds of emotions, including anger. I think it's more important how those emotions are displayed towards a client. A T that rants and raves and has an extreme expression of anger is probably not being at all appropriate or helpful to their client. A T that becomes angry for some reason and is able to discuss that anger with the client in a helpful way would be an appropriate response.

Personally, I would actually find it helpful if my T did become angry with me and then expressed it and worked through it with me. The only real models I have for anger in a relationship are violence or silence, and sometimes I think it would be so helpful to have someone be angry at me and talk with me about it in a calm, rational, non-violent manner! Of course, I tend to go out of my way to prevent people from being angry with me, and my T doesn't seem like the type to get angry, so I doubt such a situation would ever happen.

As for when a T SHOULD be angry with a client...well, I would think that would depend on the personality of both the T and the client. Everyone has different things that trigger anger in them. I would think that breaking rules or promises would frustrate some and anger others. I imagine most T's would be upset at being lied to, but it's all about context too. And, yes, I'd expect a T would be angry if their client harmed themself or others, but I also expect that anger would stem from caring about the client and wanting them to be safe.