Sometimes it's both and then some.

There is part of you that does operate in the now Hidden. The reason why I shared the example my T explained to me is because a person can most definitely have "hidden" parts where they experienced traumas at different ages yet maintain a part of themselves that can actually be very intelligent and even high functioning.

Sharing a partial memory with a therapist and then having a part of you that decides what you shared did not happen can actually be a part of you that might be a part that is able to realize that a memory may not have happened, yet, something you read/saw reminded you of how you may have "felt" at some point in your past where you somehow fit what you saw as an explaination. This is something that is very common in human beings in general Hidden.

This is something that therapists have to be careful about when they are working with a patient that may have experienced early trauma. They don't want to create a "false" memory that can add to a trauma.

You stated, "we are still new to therapy" right? Well, it's understandable that because you are new to working with a therapist that you are not "yet" sure how therapy will help you or even if you can actually "trust" your therapist "yet". Ofcourse you will at times feel stubborn and fearful or even terrified too.

A good therapist has to "learn" that when they work with a patient the first goal for them is to help the patient feel "safe". You also instinctively know you need to feel that with a therapist, so, for you to feel safe there will be some of that stubborness as well as fearfulness and even at times being terrified. You need your therapist to see this too, you need to know that your new therapist will be "there" for you no matter what part of you comes forward with challenges.