"While it’s true that there’s a benefit to the way in which psychotherapy often asks us to examine these kinds of memories, we believe that both therapist and patient have to be aware that dealing with painful memories should be a judicious combination of depth and a light touch. After processing and resolving memories like this, they should be explored only to the extent necessary as to how they relate to the present, if at all."

The bolded part is very much my T's approach to traumatic memories. We've done some very difficult work with memories, but once we have, we really only go back to them as needed if they relate somehow to the present. This has allowed me to do with those traumatic memories the same thing I do with any memory, put back there in a file in my head so I can refer to it if needed, but the memories no longer pound on me and jerk me around like they used to. It is a very healing approach.