Hi Favorite Jeans! It sounds like a sad time with your T retiring at a time when you’re not able to meet face to face, even though I’m sure you’re right and that you’ll be fine, but still I imagine this is really tough and sad. It’s striking to me how you say that there is so much potential for mis-atunement over the phone. I also agree with this - I’m super sensitive to things like tone and body language, and these things can be missed or misread by phone or even by video call.
I wonder whether since your T is retiring she would make it possible for you to meet face to face before she retires? I realise it might be out of her hands though. Or might she be able to reserve a session or two face to face when that becomes possible, even if it was after her retirement? I realise this will depend on other people’s rules and so it might not be possible, it’s just some thoughts. I think if I were in your place I would make those kind of suggestions to T and explain pretty much what you have explained here. I hope that you manage to bring it all to a good ending. I know from the things you’ve written over the years that this T has been really caring and really helpful, even if right now it’s really difficult to experience that.