Wow, earthmama... sounds like a really intense but healing session.

I 'get' what you mean about the three year old being able to glimpse something outside of her range of knowledge. How wonderful that she was able to begin to understand the concept that time could be / is different and there is safety in her world now. It is so important for those parts of ourselves to understand that.

I wonder if that intensity of feeling that came after - the immediate and urgent desire to self harm - could have come from the three year old? I may be completely off track there, but it occured to me but perhaps that is her own sort of 'backlash' for daring to think anything different? It may have been 'her' emotion, and your typical reaction to feeling those kinds of emotions?? Maybe?

Or...that feeling may have come from another part entirely.

Either way, the communication you've begun is wonderful, and is an absolutely essential part of healing. I truly admire how hard you work at all of this.