I can somewhat relate to this.....My t was much more caring towards me early on in therapy...and now seems to be more interested in challenging me. I'm sure he still cares, but is more interested in helping me to be more direct and assertive - and less enabling poor behaviors.

I, too, have issues with confrontation...so I used to send emails when I was upset with him or having trouble. After a particularly huge rupture we had about a year ago, he told me that if I am upset with him, I am to address it in person and NOT by email.

This last time around, he didn't even acknowledge my email.....and let me stew on it for a week....so that I could see how badly it feels to not address things in the moment, in the room....as a way to help encourage me to be more direct as it happens...instead of holding onto and it taking the "easy way out" by emailing him instead.

I understand that he's trying to help model healthy behavior.....it sux sometimes....