I told my therapists from the very first session, in very very general terms, that I had been abused. That was my primary reason for needing therapy, so they needed to know that. However, getting to the details, fleshing it out, really talking about it in depth was a long, slow, piece-by-piece, little bit at a time, very careful process.

My therapists were very objective about it most of the time, particularly in those moments when I was discussing details. I needed that. My own emotions were enough to deal with; I didn't need theirs mixed in at that moment. Their own feelings about what I went through came out at other times that were more appropriate for me than right in the midst of the details.