I like this a lot. I think what Blue said is true -- it is not going back and digging up the past and just HURTING all over again that helps! It is forming new associations -- getting triggered and not running away teaches us that it is okay to face fear. And then what "fires together" is fear AND holding our ground! Purposely focusing on negative, negative, negative, and causing ourselves pain should CERTAINLY not be the focus of therapy -- we should celebrate, in therapy, that we faced our fears and no longer fear them so much! Therapy can be difficult, but should end up being joyous -- in the way that we leave therapy saying, look what I did! I kicked my mental illness in the butt!