For me, it really depends on the doc / therapist. I've walked into some meetings.....and found myself immediately resisting opening up and telling anything close to the truth. I once fled one office, in tears, about 15 minutes into the first visit.

For that one, I just decided that *I* wasn't ready to discuss my issues, period. Other times, I've felt like I just couldn't / wouldn't connect with whomever, and moved on to someone different.....kept searching until I found someone I COULD talk to, at least a little.

For ALL docs / therapists, ALL meetings, I try to keep one main point in mind - no one can force me to talk about something I don't want to talk about. *I* decide what to share, and how much to share. Which brings me right back to, telling THEM I won't talk about whatever, at that point, if I don't want to. Sounds simple, soooo very isn't. Far easier to lie / blow things off / sing them a happy tune. But that's the one hard / harsh rule I insist upon, for myself. If I'm gonna go, I MUST be honest. If I'm going to lie, I might as well not even go.

Being honest doesn't mean you have to dredge up every little thing, and spill everything. Give yourself permission to NOT answer what you can't / don't want to. It's perfectly allowable to say "I won't talk about that today."