It sounds like it might be a bit hard for you because you’re doing it at the suggestion of someone else, more like a "prescription" coming from a p-doc, rather than having your own agenda in mind that you want to address.

I’ve had 17 years of individual therapy over the years. I was 20 when I started and was very much not formed as an individual yet. I went to therapy of my own initiative based on feeling that my life wasn’t going well at all, and that I felt utterly confused and miserable. That I needed help in some way, but I had no way to express what I thought the problem was, or what needed to be done in therapy. I had to find myself so to speak, so I know somewhat what you’re talking about.

It's hard to ask for help about something when you're not sure what that "thing" is, but you'll experience that over and over in therapy.

There's no right or wrong, and there are 2 dynamics that I've found in my therapy.

Whatever I start talking about, it sometimes doesn't directly get at an issue of importance, but in the interactive dialogue with the therapist s/he can steer things a bit with what they say based on the vibe they get, so that you can end up being led to something important that's on your mind. Having a generalized feeling of anxiety without knowing what it's about has been the kind of thing that has been "gotten at" that way.

The other thing, and I guess I'm talking beyond just personal experience, is the psychoanalytic idea that whatever it is comes to mind that you bring up is important. That if you don't consciously choose the issue, the issue chooses itself, so to speak, from the subconscious.

I went to about 5 sessions last winter with a psychologist--PhD--who was a psychoanalyst and that was how it went with her. She'd sit, saying nothing until I spoke, and not guide things much at all. That's not what I need right now, so I stopped, but the concept is, I'm sure, familiar to you.

About the thing with your dad: I'm sure everyone will tell you that things that happened long ago can be extremely relevant, and if it comes to mind, it must have some importance for you.

Good luck.