Agreed. I think of one time, fairly early on, with my T, where I mentioned something about being particularly anxious that day. I asked something like, "Is it because I'm playing with my bracelet? Or something else?" And he gestured toward me and said, "All of it." Basically, all of my body language together.

My ex-T didn't take many notes, but would generally write a couple things randomly during session. I asked at one point what she wrote, and she said it will often be something like, "seems anxious" or "looks depressed."

So I think they're always observing--it doesn't mean they're making any sort of judgment about what they observe. I've also read before that they're looking for something that might be different than normal. Like if a client always shows up dressed well, their hair done, etc., then starts showing up in wrinkled clothing, messy hair. Or the opposite. That could signify a change in their mental health. Or if they're always on time, then keep showing up late.