I also came from an non-expressive family and was in fact yelled at or laughed at for crying. So I understand how hard it can be to let another see you cry or break down. I am pretty good at being able to cry now in therapy. T has shown me that it is safe to do that with him. He reacts by either not reacting--just acting like it is normal--or sometimes by making noises of empathy and caring. He lets me know he is there with me in this. He has also cried in session with me before (not sobbed or anything, just a few tears), so I have learned this is a natural emotion, that people do it, and it is fine, even healthy. I tend to hold things tightly inside and this can take so much effort and energy. When I finally decided I wanted to stop holding all my emotions inside, it was such a relief to let them out. I felt so much energy "freed up" for positive things. There have been a couple of times I was crying a little, silently, and my T encouraged me to sob if I needed to. I know that sounds dramatic (no one ever sobbed in my family), but there has been 2 or 3 times in therapy when I was able to let out a single sob, like deep from the soul, and I must admit, it really helped tremendously! I felt lighter and like it was cleansing and helped break a hole through my walls. There is also a wonderful feeling of being able to trust someone enough to cry with them, and that made me feel closer to my T. So, all in all, learning to cry during my sessions has been a huge positive,

Silent Screams, have you shared your fear of breaking down in therapy with your T? What does he say? My T used to say things like, what can I do to make it safe for you here? And he would follow any little clue I gave that might make it easier (like turning the lights lower so he couldn't see me as well). Sometimes I am still embarrassed of crying and I will hide behind my hands. T doesn't think it's weird or anything. Whatever works.