I always worry I will irritate, frustrate, overwhelm or cause my therapist to feel helpless...because that happened with my first clinical psychologist (ex T) who felt my issues were quite overwhelming, my intellectualisation frustrating and difficult to break through, and some of my mannerisms annoying.

So I finally asked the current therapist if she ever felt overwhelmed, irritated, frustrated etc with my struggles, and she said "No." and asked "Does it seem that I am overwhelmed or irritated or frustrated?" and I agreed that no, she seems pretty unphased by my crap.

I told her that I didn't know I overwhelmed my ex T until she told me , though I sensed something was "off" in the room, but didn't know what was wrong. She said I would be able to tell, and I agreed that with her, I feel like she can contain my crap.

So I insisted she had to tell me if I was evoking negative emotions in her and she said "Can I also tell you about the times when you actually make me quite proud, and when you actually make me quite happy?"

I was really surprised that she would actually have these positive feelings towards me.

I told her I really try to work hard in therapy, and that I am invested in and value our work, and said I hoped she was able to sense that, she said she did!