It's the basis of therapy I think, because if they don't see and hear you, how can they help you?

My T and pdoc do, usually. Although in the past sometimes pdoc said I was doing better (not spending all day sitting in the corner of my bedroom, picking up activities) and it was.. sort of hurtful to me because my mood was still the same, I was just acting in a more socially acceptable way.
So now pdoc usually says "I know you find it difficult to hear, but I see you're DOING better because of x.. and I also know that you're not FEELING better." That does make me feel seen and heard.
T is similar, although she usually talks about growth and I'm like, yeah so I'm 'growing' but I'm unhappy, so does it matter?

Also I use this analogy a lot.. came up with it myself. "Yeah, I seem more cheerful and that's probably true. But I'm still below the freezing point. Water 50 degrees below the freezing point makes you just as unable to swim as water 100 degrees below. You're still frozen and cold."
They understand that.