Dear T:

I've noticed your tendency to say "I'm sure I've told you this story . . . ." or "I'm sure you've heard all my stories by now . . . " and then you go on to tell me something I haven't heard before. What's that about? Do you think we've done this so long that you have nothing left to say to me, or nothing that's useful?

I'm not falling into that trap by thinking you want me to leave, because it's your job to say so directly and not hint subtly at it. It's about you and not about me. Even in the discussion we had last week about "what's left," I made it clear that I see regular therapy as ongoing self care needed in the brutal vicarious traumatization of my work, and I know you got that.

So prepare for the question, because it's irritating me and despite that fact that dealing with irritations has some positives and I do think there is deeper meaning in this, it feels like something asserted in my therapy I don't necessarily want there. And I don't believe you say things repeatedly in a casual way without considering whether you should say it, so it means something. Or so I think, and I once again may turn out to be wrong.