I used to get overwhelmed a lot in my sessions. It helped sometimes if I asked T to talk about something else--I would get frozen and wouldn't be able to lead the conversation. He would prattle on about his garden or the weather or what he saw on his walk into work. It was comforting. Eventually I'd be ready to reconnect and talk with him again, even if it was about non-therapy stuff.

Sometimes we need a break. Sometimes we need the connection more than anything that happens in conversation.