I'm not sure if there's a thread out there that this topic belongs in but I wanted to ask about what kind of body language do you pick up on from your therapist?

I know they're human. At times they may be tired, irritable, or *shudder* to think perhaps even bored at times. They can also be moved, amused or happy about something you're saying and give off positive body language cues.

And then there's the stuff we're just reading into.

During my last session, I was reading some breakthrough thoughts from my diary and I was quite excited but nervous about it, so I rambled it off, rather hurriedly as well as interjecting commentary along the way. I felt a bit scattered.

In the middle of reading, I heard her take a really deep breath. I looked up and her eyes were closed and she exhaled slowly. She quickly reopened her eyes and I tried to carry on and just finish what I was talking about. . I didn't question it. I know she was paying attention and we had a good session, no doubt but those little non-verbal moments stuck in my head.

Later I thought, what was that about? Was she feeling my excitement and nervousness as stress and needed to breathe to calm "us"? Did something I say annoy her? Or was she bored, and trying to refocus her attention?

I wish I had the presence of mind to ask what that was about. I wouldn't even have known how to ask —"uh, ... are you...what is that?" It was a small thing so I don't think I'll bring it up later but it's odd when a therapist shows such a physical reaction to something.

Do you talk back to your T on this kind of things? Would you ask if s/he is tired, or irritated if you picked up on something? What are your experiences with body language in a session?