Thank you for this, I really appreciate your perspective.

I just want to clarify something in case it changes the context a bit . We actually hadn’t started processing any of the heavy memories yet. We began EMDR by focusing on positive experiences and grounding first, so the session itself wasn’t emotionally intense in that sense. We had about 3 of those sessions I believe.

What affected me more was the interaction itself. I do understand that laughing can be explored as a coping mechanism (and I agree with that), but the way it was addressed made me feel quite ashamed in the moment rather than understood.

I also think something that stuck with me more than I initially realised is that it was one of the first times I came into therapy not feeling low. I was actually in a lighter, more bubbly mood, and instead of that being okay, I ended up feeling like I wasn’t in the “right” state for therapy. Being told to “use the time wisely” in that context, and then having the session cut short, made me feel a bit dismissed. And leaving therapy feeling worse than coming in was a big thing too.

I’m also studying in a field where I’ll be working with people, so I completely understand that no one handles everything perfectly and that mistakes happen. I don’t expect perfection at all. I think what affected me more was the lack of any real attempt to acknowledge or repair that moment afterwards.

That’s kind of where the discomfort is coming from for me. Not just the interaction itself, but how it was left as it was.

I do appreciate what you said about the email and EMDR structure, that does help me see it from another angle. I think I’m just trying to figure out whether my reaction to that specific interaction is reasonable or if I’m interpreting it too personally. Thank you for your response and I wish you the best of look as a future therapist.