I guess it is hard... Because a therapist could encourage anger or sadness or something for their own ego needs... But then similarly a therapist could foster independence and aloofness for their own ego needs... So... Kind of hard to say.

I wouldn't like to say whether one is 'further along' or more advanced in therapy if one responded with x rather than y to a therapist having some time off. I'd imagine... Ones response could be different at different times and that different responses could signify different things for different people. Sometimes moving from x to y can constitute an advance for a person and sometimes moving from y to x can constitute an advance for the same person even.

I think... We are all ok...