I can totally, totally empathise with what you're going through. I'm not sure exactly what words I used when I told my T, but he understood enough that I can now reference it and he knows what I'm talking about.
But I find the A word still really hard to say. My T asked me (I really can't remember how he worded it) what I want from therapy on that issue, and I said it was enough for now to know he knows, and I can talk to him about it if I need to. That's where the empowerment lies for me, in knowing he knows and understands. I think that the ability to verbalise will come with time, and isn't vital to begin the healing process, so don't be hard on yourself if you struggle to say it.