So I sent an email to Dr. T last night saying how while I do understand that he cares about me, due to his actions, it would be helpful if he could say it in word sometimes, however he felt comfortable phrasing it (like with disclaimers/caveats, etc.). I was fully expecting either some reassertion of his boundaries (which I acknowledged in the email) or a reply of "Let's discuss this Monday."

Instead, he just sent a really nice and, well, caring response that made me cry in a good way. Things like caring "a great deal" about my well-being, being "strongly invested" in supporting me, having compassion for my struggles, how I'm a good person, etc. Even included (cover your eyes, SD) a winking emoji at the end. (That part was because I'd said how it would be nice to hear words about caring at least every 50-100 therapy hours--in other words, that I wasn't asking for it all the time--so he said he hoped this would hold me for 50-100 sessions, winking emoji.) He still has his bad/stupid/clueless moments, but I feel like the pandemic has really changed him as a T (or maybe it was partly my influence, I don't know).