Analytical therapist?

So I just entered an intensive outpatient therapeutic program. I have a new therapist who I've seen twice.

Something I've noticed about him quite quickly is...he's pretty analytical. In our last session he started off by trying to draw a house metaphor, asking me what each part of the house serves and what it means to me.

I answered "I don't know" to almost every question. He then asked very straightforward if he was making me uncomfortable. I said just I didn't like the metaphors.

So he left the office and came back with a packet of papers. I got to listen to him explain all about the 15 different types of defense mechanisms, all while I awkwardly had my face completely turned away from him. I felt very exposed because it just felt like he was so blatantly trying to tug at the wall I've put up for so long and on the second session.

He asked me to tell him some that I use, I loosely picked two but he was left defeated when I wasn't willing to explain why I chose them. I think he's feeling kinda defeated overall because almost every single answer to the questions he's asked have been "I don't know" or a shoulder shrug.

Anyways, with my last therapist we'd just casually talk and she'd even take sips of her drink or type things into her laptop. She'd even kick off her shoes and sit on her chair bare feet. It was a very laid back environment.

With this guy, it's a direct focus on me with no distractions. He doesn't even take notes during session. We even sit a lot closer. Less than a few feet I'd say. He drives straight into it. Just the way he dresses is super formal.

Anyone else have an 'analytical' like therapist or have had one? How did you feel about them?

I see a psychodynamic therapist. She works fine for me. I also prefer to turn my face away, although the one I see sits off to the side.

If you want to get something out of seeing this guy while you're in this program, you're going to have to make a bit of an effort. Why are you answering only with "I don't knows" and shoulder shrugs? Is it that you really don't have answers to any questions he asks (doubtful), that your mind goes blank, that you're dissociating, that you just don't feel like talking to him because he isn't your other therapist whom you liked?

When I feel resistant to talking, sometimes it's interesting to talk about that and figure out why I feel that way with the therapist. Would it be easier if this guy sat farther away? He won't be willing to change his wardrobe or start putting his feet up if that's not his style, but you could talk about what it means to you that he doesn't do those things.

Just try to find something, anything, that you'd be willing to talk about and go from there. Sometimes when I'm feeling really resistant I even begin by making some provocative exclamation about something, just to get the conversation going. Of course, I tell the therapist later that it was all part of a clever ruse so that she won't be under the wrong impression. For example, I have accused her of hating me even though I don't believe that. But I told her that I was just being provocative, so she is aware that I don't have the fear that she hates me and also she is aware that I can be theatrical and manipulative when I want to avoid something.

Anyway, that's what I do.

I'm not really sure what you mean by analytical. My T uses a psychoanalytical approach but has never done anything like what you describe.

TBH I don't know if those exercises would work very well for me either. But it does sound like you were shutting down without giving it a try. The house thing sounds like it's supposed to be kind of a conversation starter more than anything.

If you think you'd do better with a more relaxed and less structured approach, maybe you could try telling him that. Or just tell him what you want to talk about, maybe.

I see a psychoanalytic therapist and it works well for me. I don't feel like he over analyzes everything I say but he has been pretty spot on when he does. He rarely starts our sessions, because he believes it's up to the client to determine what they want to talk about. When I dont know what I want to say, I'll say that or say something about how I'm feeling. For instance my last session I started off saying I had a headache which got us talking about that, sleep, the medication I'm on, etc. It's very informal which I like. I don't know if I could handle him sitting close though. He sits on the other side of the room in his chair and I sit on the other side in a different chair. He does have a couch but that's super close to him and I haven't been brave enough to use it.

Here's my thought. If the therapist is new to practicing he's relying on "props" so he feels more in control.

If he's experienced, the props are his style of doing therapy.

Either way, I can't stand that type of therapy, frankly speaking. It feels fake to me.

I'm in psychoanalytic therapy. T has never made metaphors. I make them.
Have you asked if his feeling defeated?
Reads more like your own internal power play.

Maybe you simply find him too direct? Some therapists are content to wait for you to open up, others take a more direct approach. It may be that someone more relaxed might be easier for you to open up. That said, a more proactive approach can work really well for some client but it just depends. It might be worth trying to provide some input to see if this may actually be helpful to you.

As others have said, psychanalytic ts are all different. I had a psychodynamatic t years ago and she always waited for me to bring what I wanted to the session. It sounds like this is more your T's personality and approach to therapy.

Incidently, I once saw a T who was keen to use Gestalt in the room; she asked me to talk to a chair as if it were a family member and express my feelings. I absolutely hated it and felt completely put on the spot and exposed. The worst thing was, I didn't feel able to tell her I didn't want to do it, as she just assumed I would. I will never forget how it made me feel as I'm very self conscious at the best of times.

I guess I'm saying some self reflection might be good to see if you genuinely feel afraid to work with this T's approach, or if you are being avoidant and may just need to try to open up a bit with him for the therapy to be helpful.