Don't be hard on yourself. Some people have awkward faces (I'm one of them!)

I've often thought I could never be a T because of all these contradictory demands that are supposed to govern their presentation--remain neutral but not cold; reflect the patient but keep it professional; express empathy but don't collude; act natural but follow all these other rules!

The result is that sometimes T's get weird faces. Hell, sometimes everybody puts on a weird face.

I wasn't ten minutes into my second session with T when I wanted to punch his face. I looked up (I struggle with eye contact sometimes) and there it was, all dripping with empathy as he said "Wow! That sounds difficult."

And all I could think was, "ARE YOU MOCKING ME, SIR?!"

Take advantage of the opportunity to comment on T's facial expression if it brings something up for you; Therapy is pretty much the only socially acceptable place to comment on it!