I've wondered about that too. My T often goes from client to client with no break....one client walks out, and I walk in....but somehow he manages to be SO present with me and whatever is going on. He remembers the details of my story, of our last session, he notices little things about what my body language is saying. I REALLY don't know how he does it.

As for T's having their own problems...my T has told me many times that he likes the fact that focusing on other people 8 hours a day takes him out of his head and away from his own stuff. I know that when I connect with other people, it helps me forget about my own troubles, so that part totally makes sense to me.