Has the therapist ever said these things to you?

I always found the empty. And baffling - they chose the oddest times to interject those things.

Or this forum attracts likeable smart brave people in higher percentages than one would expect from a random sample?

Mine has said several of those or variations of.

I believe her. She doesn't seem the type to throw out random platitudes or compliments just because.

ETA: I believe that she means it. I don't necessarily believe that her belief in my, say, bravery, means that I am actually brave. I'm pretty chickensh** about a lot of things...

It's an honour to work with me, but probably not a pleasure.

My therapist has said many of these things. They didn't seem genuine but I never thought about what she says to other clients. Though I guess I do think about what responses are genuine and which are generic therapists responses.

my t has said these:
You are brave/strong - I do not believe this one.
It is an honor/pleasure to work with you - I don't know how I can believe this one. I KNOW that I am a right pain in the ***.
you work really hard - this one is absolutely true
you are insightful - this one I sorta believe
"we" (meaning therapist and client) get along well - this one I believe
you are very smart/bright/intelligent - this one I do not believe
I am not impervious to clients (or words to that meaning)- her words were that I have had a profound effect on her - this one I cannot fathom how

and stop talking about percentages y'all are reminding me of my stats class ugh!!! haha j/k this is a good application of the stuff I'm trying to learn!!!

My ex therapist told me that it was brave to share X (it wasn't), that she couldn't work with people she didn't find interesting which meant she found me interesting (I thought this was so gross the way she put it: my problems have to be interesting otherwise **** off) and that she was attached to me (so basically a version of "caring"). I mean it's obvious therapists just peddle that ******** so that clients will come back because that's what a lot of people who go to therapy want to hear: oh you are so strong, so smart, so unique. Barf. Truth is: nope. I don't believe anyone is unique for instance. Usually people who think they're so "unique" are insufferable. As for being smart, my experience is that a lot of people are not smart at all. The fact that therapists can even say those things with a straight face is kind of hilarious. This is meaningless feel-good nonsense.

R has said a number of these things to me, and I gather strength from our relationship...so to believe them insincere would be detrimental to me.

The first time she called me brave, I couldn't speak afterwards.

After a moment's silence, she said 'I'm wondering what's going on for you at the moment...and I must admit, part of me is wondering whether I have said something bad.'

I'm still not sure the word brave fits, but she has used it twice. 'I think you're really brave..and it's nothing to do with what you're going through, but with how you are pushing yourself to confront this difficult stuff.'

Has any of you Ts explained the the compliment or just thrown it out there and continued on?

That is interesting--maybe this forum just attracts really smart/bright people? In my case, current T said he was concerned I might be more intelligent than him. He's also otherwise commented on my intelligence (like in terms of when I was applying for PhD program). And ex-T has often said I'm very bright and competent.

Yes, when mine said his version of the brave/strong comment, "I think you're very resilient," he explained it. He said how I've dealt with anxiety and OCD all my life, but have still managed to function and am trying to work on it by being in therapy. I really appreciated that comment.

My T almost always surrounds her compliments with the reasons why she's saying them. I think it makes it more genuine and believable on my part.

My T uses most of these and yes I believe she is being honest. She fits them in to our conversations well and uses specific examples of things that I've done or are doing when she compliments me.

Again, not saying therapists aren’t being honest, but looking at the list, some of these statements about client characteristics—how can the therapist really know? In the space of an hour you might be able to pick up on intelligence, and over time whether a client is working hard, but brave, honest, show their true nature in therapy—how does the therapist know when they see the client for such a small percentage of the clients’ lives and they are dependent on the client for information about what happens outside of therapy? After years together, perhaps, but before that?

I think these are quite good examples for the superficiality of many therapists. They throw up these generic meaningless phrases, and if they please a small percentage of clients, they perhaps think they are doing a good supportive job. But many other professionals and sales people say similar things as well to clients. They may or may not be true for a particular case but are more often not specific or carry any deep message at all. I do like positive reinforcement but more sophisticated and tailored than these.

Yes. As a matter of fact, my t said something to me at one of my recent sessions that I still find myself wondering about: How could she possibly know that about me?

I dunno. Maybe that's why therapy works the way it does? T and client can only work together on what the client brings into the room. If it seems brave or strong or honest, then that's what the t has to go on. T's response isn't going to be affected by me being irritable and short that morning before I had my coffee or what she remembers me being like in high school.

I think conceptual thinking, analytical thinking, insight etc are qualities a T could readily judge against other clients . I agree with LT that many on PC are strong in these areas

I haven't seen much that I would describe in that way, but maybe.

Also courage and hard work.

PC where the women are strong, the men are good looking, and everyone is above average

I love that!

I was being sarcastic.

No, it's true!

My T has said I'm quick to pick up on things (which has been said by a number of people, so I kind of believe him), that he cares and that he's affected by things I say sometimes. The last two I'd expect therapists to say, the caring is part of the job and the being affected is just being honest, I don't think it's possible to not be affected at all.

Since there is absolutely no way for me to respond fully to this sentiment in a manner that could be considered supportive under even a bare minimum of what that word might encompass, let us just agree to disagree.