My T asks me this as a ritual, first off, before anything else is said and she often says it in the hallway to her office as more of 'Hello--" greeting/space filler. It kinda bugs me.

T: (Opening the door to waiting room) "Hey ..."
Me: (Getting up and walking ahead of her into hallway towards her office) "Hello..."
T: (Walking behind me down the hallway) "How are you...?"
Me: "Uh. okay... "

Whether I am or not, I always say "Okay..." It makes me think, 'Of course I'm not okay- why else am I here?'

It's kind of awkward for me and I don't really like it. Each time I answer, it feels disingenuous. My back is ahead of her and I'm not gonna answer honestly in the hallway. Yeah, it's only about a 15 foot trot but it passes other offices and I'm just not gonna talk about anything till we get into that room and my butt is on that couch.

I just wish she's say hello and leave it a that. We don't have to fill the void between the waiting room and her office with 1 word banter.