I think this is why I often don't understand your T. He seems to take everything at face value (or even need it explained to him) whereas most therapists I have seen are always looking for deeper hidden meanings. Sometimes it drives me crazy when my T does this, but sometimes it's astonishingly useful. I think your T's approach also makes it harder for him to meet your needs without you hitting him over the head with them. It seems like it could be a useful exercise in asking for what you need, or it could be frustrating that you always have to ask, especially if you don't know what you need.