For me, I kept minimizing it when T would say words like "abuse." I didn't see what I had experienced as abuse. It just seemed "normal" to me since I had experienced it for so many years. I also felt by admitting that I had experienced "abuse," that would be like taking on the role of a victim, and I am not a victim. Anyway, we went at this off and on for quite some time. And then he recommended a book to me on emotional abuse and I read it cover to cover before our next session. That book described me and my experience. I recognized myself and realized that I had experienced abuse. At the next session, my T was kind of amazed I had done this complete turnaround (maybe a little chagrinned: "you don't believe me but you do believe a book?" lol). We were able to talk about it a lot more after that. I still don't like to use the word abuse, but I do recognize myself as having gone through the same things as the people in that book.

So anyway, the book opened the door for me.

I think it's important not to feel forced to talk about something you are not ready to. Therapy should be on your timetable.