Wow, this thread was started over two years ago, it has been interesting to see what I had said at the time. I still have the same opinion in that it helps "if" the therapist, even other individual understand the overall challenge and how to listen an not criticize but instead consider what they are learning about the patient and can validate the way the patient needs to move forward.

My last therapist said to me that his part in the relationship is being a "witness" for me that I had not had when I needed it.

I find that when I experience something that challenges me or triggers me, it's not the individual who stands in judgement of me, looks to criticize me or doesnt even say anything, but instead the individual that is thoughtful enough to see the challenge and say to me, "that individual was being mean to you or treating you badly". Or, to acknowledge that yes, what I experienced was traumatic instead of acting dismissive.

When someone is experiencing PTSD, that person survived something traumatic, may have even survived several traumatic events. The question of being strong enough, isn't about the trauma so much as needing find "strength" in dealing with the "post traumatic stress" that develops "after" a trauma.

We can not change a traumatic event. If talk therapy "relives" the trauma, that doesn't help a patient. Talk therapy isn't about reliving something we can never change, instead it is talking about a trauma with an individual that has the capacity to "witness" it "with" us and then help the patient gain "stength" to deal with putting their life back together in spite of that major traumatic event or events.

One of the sadest things I have come across, and even felt myself is I see someone vent a challenge and either at the end or the beginning applogize. That tells me that person has needed help, maybe even early on and was treated as though their needs were a bother or not important.