</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
emily4040 said:
I would jump up, and run out the door screaming like a loon. Prolly not the best advice tho.....

</div></font></blockquote><font class="post">
Em, thanks for the belly laugh--I think I almost spit my tea on the monitor.

It's interesting to hear that other people's T's do this too. (My first counselor never did anything remotely like this.) I got this image of therapists-in-training sitting in class, practicing this technique, as the instructor guides them. "Now class, pull your chairs close to the client, look into their eyes, and project your empathy, positive energy, warmth, caring, and love right at them." And all the T's try this out, with varying degrees of success. "And remember class, you must keep a straight face when you do this."

Thanks for your comments, Sky, David, ECHOES.

Sky, like your T, mine also does this when there is really something important he wants me to hear. Sometimes he will even preface this "move" with the words "listen to me," or "I have something to say to you."

I'm glad I mentioned this here, I think next time it happens I'll be more relaxed with it.

The converse of this "move" is when T leaves his chair and sits on the couch, which is further away from me. And he'll often turn in profile to me, not looking directly at me anymore, and swing his legs up on the couch. I suspect he's just giving his back a rest, but I feel like saying "don't leave me, come back!"