Once I went on a rant to my T about how dumb it felt that she should know everything about me and I can’t know anything about her. And she challenged me— “Ask me anything you’d like. Ask me anything about me.” And I couldn’t do it. It felt like a weird trap or manipulation. Like I was missing something. She was like, “You have a few minutes left. You’re not leaving here until you’ve asked me two personal questions.” And again I couldn’t do it. I think I figured she was setting me up and as soon as I asked something, she’d pull the “Why do you want to know” card. I also felt rude as if I was demanding personal information from someone. (Having pets does not seem like personal information) Her office is full of clues about her life, though. Her office makes it clear she has children, dogs, an ex-husband, etc etc... It’s all right there on the walls and in the decor. Not family photos, but plenty of hints that add up. All that is to say that I never asked her about anything. But I would have been heartbroken to have been shut down and not have my question seem valid. What I sometimes did was make assertions about her that she would affirm or deny— like the adult children part for example.