wolftrap, it sounds like you therapist has a good approach to helping you with this. She obviously gets it.

I have, indeed, had periods when I dwelled too much on the past and felt burdened by it. I understand what you and the others who've posted here feel. I can say that I have been freed from most all of it, and only on rare occasions do such thoughts pop up again. When they do, I can manage to become free from them again, quickly. Your therapist's planned approach, combined with other CBT tools are what I go to for help. Of course it takes practice and patience, sometimes.

I can't say this is a good solution for all, but for me I found writing my story on my blog helped. It was like putting it out there and then closing the "page" was effective.