Not knowing the whole context in which she said this, and my feeling that therapy isn't judgemental (but we who are on the couch are!), my take is that it was congratulatotory. It sounds to me like she was praising you, acknowledging that it takes time, and recognizing the time you have invested.

It takes time. Time to get to know one another. Time for the relationship with the therapist to grow to one of trust. Time to get to what you want to and need to get to.

It takes as long as it takes and there is no timetable.

Yes, definitely talk to her about how you feel about this. Ask her what she means by 'doing the work', as that can mean different things to different people and has particular meaning in therapy.

What do you think? Do you think the recent months have been different in, and out of, therapy?

You can't and don't need to control progress. There is always something new to talk about or a new layer of something to discover and explore.

Guessing and worrying about what another person is thinking is frustrating and fruitless because you can't know what they are or have been thinking. Unless you ask and talk about it. Consider doing that and then you can let it go until you see her next and that might help you feel better.

ECHOES