Thanks for those quotes from Briere, notme.... I haven't a chance to read the article.

I especially liked what he said about verbal assurances about being safe not being enough- the client has to EXPERIENCE the safety. I think that must be why it takes SO LONG to feel safe in therapy...and, at least for me, why when I finally did start to really feel safe, I felt it (and feel it) SO very deeply.

Everything you quoted just seemed so "on the mark". I am so grateful that we have therapy as a place to heal.