Wasn't your current T in the room with the two of you? If so, it is very possible that had a strong impact on your ability to feel any sort of connection with the new T. I sort of wondered if her being present had the potential to actually keep those barriers up. It would for me. In fact, it would seem very awkward. Like: who's the T here, I want my T to protect me from that stranger, I have to remain loyal to my real T.

But neutral isn't a bad thing. Most people don't connect on first sight. Relationships take time to grow, and they don't usually happen in groups. They usually need one-on-one time to start building that connection and intimacy.