None of mine have ever said it.

I knew that R cared (still cares) about me. He showed it to me all the time. Towards the end of our time together, I was never questioning it at all. He didn't have to say it.

I agonised over whether C cared about me, and if he'd said it I (in particular those parts of me that really needed to feel it) would have briefly felt reassured, but I feel quite sure that it wouldn't have lasted and perhaps I would have needed to hear it over and over again and yet never really believed it. He was inconsistent with his actions and words towards me and that was what made me constantly unsure whether he cared or not.

I think there are potential good reasons for therapists not to say it, and although I usually really hate your T, LT, in this case I honestly think he is right to be thinking carefully about it. Having said that - he's already sort of said it, and if he's going to refuse to clarify it I hope he has a good explanation for you.