Petra, I shut down whenever I feel judged or rejected in some way. For example, some bad things happened over the weekend and I felt very alone. I related what happened, and I think she was sympathetic. Then she asked me what it would help me to talk about. I had no clue, so I asked her. She dug in and asked me again. Things went downhill from there. She either didn't understand I needed help with the question, or she wanted to change where the conversation was going. I kept talking, but after that we weren't communicating. I was in my own thoughts, and fighting off her responses.

Ruh roh, I wonder about that too. I asked my priest whether that might be the case, since he knows her much better than me, and he initially approached her on my behalf. He thinks she would say something, but maybe she is also concerned for me not having anyone else to go to. She seems to think I'm less functional than I actually am. (I probably look like a wreck in therapy.). I do need someone, but I need to feel supported.