First I really appreciate you taking the time to provide feedback and stay invested in my situation.
You are very perceptive. My current therapy has dealt a lot with my low self-esteem, shame, and the like. I am not as demanding of attention like the examples you provide, but sometimes if I get on a roll and am with someone who laughs at my jokes I can keep the pressure on and continue seeking that reaction. I have always done things to illicit a "reaction" -- usually by being a bit outrageous. As a teen I was like the comedy joke writer. I came up with the material, but it was usually someone else who delivered it.
You're also right about her affirmation. As I told my T, I think she doesn't say anything not only because it doesn't enter her mind, but also because if she does throw me a bone it could put pressure back onto her. W: 'If I tell him that I appreciate something, he is going to feed on that and expect more...and I don't want the pressure of dealing with his expectations.'
NEW TWIST: Here is something interesting. Today is the day my W sees her personal T. Shortly after her session ended I got a txt from my W which simply read, "You can make an appt. with that other therapist. Wed. works for me."
As I wrote, I had asked her on two occasions to see a "neutral" MC and she never responded to my requests. Today she finally did. What do you make of it? I guess this is a step in the right direction. My W clearly can't make a decision on her own, so she waited until she got the advice of her T before agreeing to go.
