I experienced very deep depression that I brought with me into the first couple of years of therapy. My T was very supportive, with a lot of reaching out to me. During periodic slides later on, I found he more often observed the depression, but was less active in reaching out to me. I realized he was waiting for me to reach toward him; to engage with him rather than withdraw. There was a method to it--to have me experience finding my own strength which he would then support.