I do this too.
My T used to do the same thing your new T does. Now he just sits quietly while I stare blankly out the window. I do focus on sounds around me and then on the books on T's wall and eventually back on T. But it took some time to master this "skill".

And I didn't ever associate this with being a negative thing before T. I just thought I was daydreaming and it was better than being in the present. And to be honest I sort of miss it now that I don't do it so much.