Ahh, I think that I see the source of your misunderstanding. I used the "checking in" phrasing because that's what the therapist thought was happening, not because that's what I personally thought was happening.

I suspect that the "brick wall" you're encountering is the result of you assuming I'm taking positions that I am not taking. That's why we are talking past each other here. I'm trying to stick to what I said, but you're trying to get me to argue positions that I have not taken.