Wow, I have a lot to say about this issue.

Former T would get a constricted, constipated look on her face a few minutes before the end -- even without it, the two clocks I could see + her cell would've gotten me out. I watched the clock like a hawk and got out a couple of minutes earlier -- after commenting many a time that it's "interesting" I watch the clock so much (and after we had a rupture around what I considered a total failure on her part), she took to asking if I'd like to stay till the end.

So, we'd spend the last couple of minutes in terribly awkward silence (with me at times nervously commenting on the awkwardness of it all while she just stared straight at me, unblinking) or she'd at times feel like she has to say something useful -- so, she'd rush like a super fast express train or something and we would both heave a sigh of relief on the dot and I'd make my exit.

A couple of sessions before I terminated with her, I really thought I should trust her and open up more emotionally -- her general complaint was that I never did -- and so I told her that I won't look at the clock and will let her end (or else, I won't let go).

She said it's a big step etc and offered to give me a 10 min warning before the end. As it turned out, the remaining couple of sessions were just awful and I couldn't have let go emotionally at any cost -- so, I was back to watching the clock and yeah, finally terminated.

Current T -- it's much more organic and chilled out. I can't see the clock unless I really twist around. I asked her about it earlier and she said it's her job to keep the time. We talked about it some and I told her how I'd look at the clock all the time with former T and how I knew it was my way of keeping my emotions in check. She asked about former T's response to it and I said she didn't do anything other than commenting that it's interesting.

Usually, with current T, my session is after hours when her building gets locked. So, when the next client comes in, she has to buzz them in -- that's my signal and I stop. She still always comes back, takes the time to talk to me and even sometimes asks me questions but I just give her short answers and stare at her in silence until she gives up and gets out her appointment book.

One time when she didn't have a client after me, we ran over by more than 20 mins and I didn't realize -- I was acutely embarrassed and apologized at the next session but she just brushed it away and said it's her responsibility. We hadn't even discussed anything seriously intense then -- so, I figure she's just chilled out about the time.

It's interesting though that in some ways, current T's system -- a loud door buzzer ringing -- would appear to be more intrusive but actually I have little or no anxiety about the clock or letting go. I kind of automatically trust her in those basic ways in a manner that I never could in the year plus that I was with former T.

Oh, and in all cases, I pay at the beginning because I'm not sure what state I'll be at the end and would I remember or not etc.