I don't hear it as condescending at all, but then I (still) battle my upbringing that taught me that my feelings were never valid.... that they are valid, is something I had to hear a lot from my t before I finally started believing it. And even though I know it now, that early conditioning still sometimes takes over and she has to remind me again.

It does take time to develop a therapeutic relationship. And even then, seems like they're always evolving... mine with current t does anyway....