Dear T,
Today made me feel better about the therapeutic relationship. I think there's still work to do and questions to consider. But I felt a bit of the connection there by the end, and I'm hoping I'll feel more when I see you in person Tuesday. Sucks that you'll then be away for a week...

I do feel like switching to twice a week might be the thing to do now. At least to try. Maybe see you 3x the full week after you're back, just so we have time to talk through things. But after that, maybe we give it a try? I need to be trying to manage more on my own, and this is a step toward that. I'm wondering if some of this pushing back against you and feeling dissatisfied with things are like a teenager pushing back against their parents? Bouncing back and forth between wanting independence but still needing them. Maybe this is a way for me to work toward more independence while still seeing you?

And it was good to hear that you saw it as progress that I was able to push Tuesday's stressful session away and focus on my family at the beach. That you didn't think I could have done that a year ago was nice to hear. I mean, I still have a long way to go in various areas, but if I can set my emotions about one thing aside to be there for another (especially for an extended period of time), that's heading in the right direction.

Love,
LT

PS: Did you dye your beard again? Or was that just the dim lighting in your room? I hope you didn't dye it again--I like the gray coming through!