Hope it's ok if I jump in here. I started e-mailing my T w/short thoughts or things I forgot soon after I started seeing him. It never occured to me to ask him if it was ok. He always answered, but in brief one or two sentence e-mails. I told him one time that my thoughts run differently when I type than at any other time. He just nodded.

Shortly after, we had a phone conversation (we have had only about 4 in a year) I told hime he sounded angry whenever I spoke w/him on the phone. He seemed surprised and apologetic. He said it wasn't true at all.

Recently, the phone thing happened again and I mentioned it again (in an e-mail). He said he has a very difficult time responding to clients when he doesn't have visulal cues. He mentioned that he has gotten scared of saying too much on the phone or e-mails. He's afraid that because he can't really "read" somebody completely that he tends to say very little and stay businesslike so he won't be misinterpreted. I guess I can understand that, however from this end it's tough. It did prompt me to ask him finally if e-mailing was ok. Duh!! Never occured to me it wouldn't be. He quietly said "yes" and I left it at that.

Suddenly I am wondering if men have more of a problem in this area than women. Or is it just therapists?