My T is very big on eye contact. He will insist at times that I look at him and meet his eyes. He will stop me talking and move his hands from my gaze (usually at the floor) and back to his face telling me in a sort of teasing way "I'm over here, not down there (or over there" LOL. He feels it's important to look at him, especially when he's responding to a question or telling me something because there is so much important (non-verbal) information that I am missing if I'm not looking at him. I think he also realizes that shame makes me look away at times and he wants to dispel the notion that there is anything shameful in what we are working on or what I'm telling him.

I'm getting much better at looking at him when I speak and when I'm listening to him speak. It is helpful and makes a difference when I can look at him because then I see/feel his empathy and it helps me to maintain the connection to him when I see the warmth and affection in his eyes and in the way he looks at me.

I'm really glad he handles it like this.

TN