Good session today. I was feeling very teenage. Late teenage - flirtatious, mischievous, stubborn, silly. Brave. She's never been very present in my sessions, it's usually the infuriating, painfully self-conscious twelve-year-old who can't express herself. T noticed, for sure. He asked me how old I was at one point.

A conversation:

T: What is it that you're afraid might happen if you fully express your feelings to me?
Luc: I'm afraid that you might... literally run away.
T: I can't run away! This is my room!
Luc: Okay, okay... throw me out then.
T: I'm not gonna throw you out. The only reason I'd throw you out would be... if you were physically violent towards me... or towards objects in the room.
Luc: You should be careful what you say. I don't believe you.
T: Why?
Luc: There are definitely other potential reasons to throw me out. I can think of one in particular.
T: No, I don't think there are.
Luc: There are.
T: Okay, so tell me what other reason you're thinking of...?

(A fairly lengthy awkward pause... at this point, my heart started beating like a dragonfly trapped in a coke can...)

Luc: I don't know if I can say it.
T: Okay, well, you don't have to. It seems like you want me to know, though? And I am pretty interested to know now.
Luc: Although I feel extremely anxious about it, I do want to tell you. My reasons being - firstly, that I want to challenge myself. I want to say what I find hard to say. Secondly, I want to prove you wrong. (said with a smirk)
T: (amused) I bet that's hard to resist...
Luc: It is!

(Another pause...)

Luc: So, there are other ways that I could violate your boundaries, beyond trying to hurt you.
T: Yes. Like...?
Luc: Ohhh, come onnn! I feel like I've made myself fairly clear...!
T: Fairly clear?! I don't know about that. Go on...
Luc: Okay. Okay. I could be physically affectionate with you.
T: ...I wouldn't throw you out for that. I'd just ask you to stop.
Luc: What if I wouldn't stop? What would you do then? You'd have to throw me out!
T: Okay, but I'd be worried about the shame you might feel if I did that.
Luc: But you'd still have to...
T: Yeah, okay. I guess I would. How do you feel about having shared that with me, despite your anxiety?
Luc: (smiling) It feels... good. I feel pleased that I proved you wrong.

(I did also then make it clear that I am 100% never going to physically attack him, affectionately or otherwise... he said he knew that I wouldn't.)