It can be really hard to start opening up in therapy. 3 - 5 sessions isn't that many - be kind to yourself. This is someone you are just getting to know, and who is just getting to know you. It's okay to go slow.

But - it seems like you are feeling distressed, like there are things you do want to tell her, but feel like you can't. Can you tell her THAT? That you're finding it really hard to open up, even though you want to? There have been sessions - session after session after session actually - where that is all that my T and I have talked about. And in talking about that, some trust was built, and I was able to talk about some other stuff a little bit. And then we had to go back to talking about talking...there is an ebb and flow to it, and it can't be rushed.

Are you worried that you won't be able to read the handwriting in your journals? She sounds very gentle and open about the journal idea - I bet if you told her you would be more comfortable with her reading them herself, instead of you reading them out loud, she would be fine with that. I write things down sometimes that are too hard to say and T reads it.

((((((((((((((((((( cafegrrrl )))))))))))))))))))) Don't get down on yourself. This stuff is hard.