Here’s why her positive affect probably comes off as so fake. I think it was really shown around time last year, when you asked for a session (or possibly two sessions) during the week of the 4 year anniversary of your friend’s death and she snapped at you. She told you she’s not going to be speaking with you during her vacation and more, blah, blah, blah, in a really stern and forceful tone. I just stared at her, somewhat stunned, definitely hurt.
Then she became super positive inquiring about X, Y, and Z.
I struggled to say anything. It became quiet.
She continued to wear her huge beaming grin.
It goes without saying that she could not have gone from frustration to positivity within a thirty second span.
Yet her grin was beaming.
Fake.
No sincerity, no authenticity.
Plasticky, ignorant Western, run-of-the-mill, LMFT.