The different styles of T1 and T2

I'd love to hear people's thoughts on this:

I've had two sessions with T2. The first was a typical first meeting where I talked quite a lot about why I was seeking therapy and she talked a bit about what she does. We then started the following week. The session was like this: She asked me a lot of questions about my childhood, there were no silences as she filled all the pauses with more probing questions. She was a great, empathetic listener, it was easy to talk to her and I felt relaxed afterwards, it felt good. This is what I thought I wanted.

Sessions with T1 are completely different. I always start, T1 doesn't ask many questions, she more gives her thoughts about what I am speaking about, which are often a different perspective and I often don't agree with. If there is a silence T1 may fill it with her thoughts relating to what we have been talking about, or she may leave it for me to speak. I don't feel particularly relaxed after woods.

I feel that T1 is more present as a person. The fact that she doesn't ask questions means that I have to be active and present in a way that I wasn't with T2. It requires me to speak my thoughts spontaneously. With T2 I was quite passive, she took control of the session by asking questions.

This has really made me think about the process of what is going on in that 50 minutes and how significant that might be to successful therapy.

I agree that your T1 sounds like a more attuned therapist, though for myself I prefer a few clarifying questions--either for facts or to encourage me to re-think--than getting her perspective, which I don't think she has ever done directly.

Question back to you: If you're sharing something particularly difficult to talk about, does she ask you one or two concrete questions for clarification? Mine has done that a few times and it surprised me how assuring it was to be asked. In a less intense example, I'd briefly shared about a home invasion. She asked me how I keep myself safe today. In contrast, past therapists have tried to move me right out of the fear and into reframing my life today. I just found it very accepting. So maybe that's why I like your first therapist's attentiveness.

I prefer questions. I do not care at all what the therapist's thoughts are.

I don't think she does ask me clarifying questions. I feel like I'd like her to ask me probing questions when I don't feel she understands, but in fact I could just explain more myself, I don't really need her to do the questioning do I? Once I remember I her saying about something I described 'I don't know whether or not you...' It was only after woods I realised that it was a kind of question, she was telling me she didn't know and leaving it up to me to tell her if I wished.

I also would like your current T's approach of accepting your fear about home invasion. I fear that too.

Just to clarify--I experienced that situation.

I like the brief questions. It shows me that she's unafraid or uncertain, and also comfortable with whatever topic I've brought up. Nothing has rocked her out of being present and engaging.

I thought you might say that, as you've said in the past you like your T to stay back. I feel that my T is close, she does not stay back, she is in the room 100% with me. I think it is what I need, but it is hard, I'm not used to this.