I think what is needed more, is that if the client "senses" something going on, we need more practice in being direct and not being afraid to ask. We were trained by parents not to question or ask, but now we are equal adults. So no more guessing, no more assuming, no more mind reading.

I like how tinyrabbit puts it, it would be really passive aggressive for a t to just hint. I took the example of the imprisoned patient a little differently - as a REALLY blatant example of a client who "can't handle the truth", but not that YOU can't handle the truth. It was more the perfection of the example, rather than its content. I mean really, who wouldn't kill for an example like that - oops, ironic!

So it's also practice in having difficult conversations without wrecking the mood or your partner's ego, or practice in letting them save face while you gently let them know. I am not the most tactful person in the world but I have been trying not to hurt my cutie T's feelings.