I've never experienced this either. The only times I've seen my university therapist pleased are the times when I have acknowledged my problems and we have talked about how to work through them. It has never been during a breakthrough of the painful kind, because those are tough for both of us. And my private therapist is very gentle and kind with all of her responses; I've never seen her have any extreme reactions one way or the other, really. Gives me a sense of comfort, in a way.

I had a breakthrough with my university therapist last week, actually, and it was a particularly difficult session. I was really struggling with something, but when I came out on the other side of it she didn't smile and act happy - she started crying. Told me she was proud of me. That meant a lot.

However, I don't think therapists are happy because their clients come to painful realisations; I think they are happy because change is happening, and that's what they're there for. They are there to make us realise these things that are destructive and cause us pain, and once we do they can help us deal with it and hopefully enable us to move on. And maybe they smile in an attempt to keep our spirits up? Maybe it is meant to be encouraging? Whatever it is, though it's clear that it doesn't always work (lol), I'm sure their intentions are good!