[Truck33]

I have been in therapy for probably over 5 months now...

Just weeks ago I told my t about some trauma via letter.

She is gently encouraging me to talk about in person though. Talk about the feelings surrounding it...

For the past few weeks each session has really been about how I'm not talking about it and how I need to talk about. Also the sessions have been about reassuring me that she is safe and I'm safe in the room with her. And really just helping me to utilize my coping skills and to prepare to talk about it....
Now I feel like I'm at a place to talk about but I just don't even know where to start or what I should start off saying...
It's such a humbling and vulnerable place to be in , my t is greAt but I'm just struggling with even know how to bring it up that I'm ready....
Like what trauma do I start with , do I just say" so when I was a teen I was..."
Does anyone have any suggestions?
How did you start the dialogue?



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[RTerroni]

I know it can take a while for you to start talking about those things, just wait and you'll know when the time is right.

[tealBumblebee]

I've just hit seven months in and I am in the exact situation. I haven't tried it yet but i thought about reprinting my letter and just slowly combing back through it - together this tine though. Not a guarantee successful plan but its the best solution i've come up with. I'm interested in seeing other suggestions. Thanks for the post. Good luck!

[Leah123]

I suggest you start with the one that bothers you the most, a common tactic for PTSD sufferers, head on exposure with the knowledge that the rest of the work will get easier, though of course each must do what they feel best.

Pre-writing might be easier, so you have something meaningful to contribute when the time is right in your session and don't get too tongue-tied. Writing has helped me process trauma a lot, and then I've gradually moved to talking directly more.

I think a simple opening is best: "I feel _____ when I think about _____ that happened when I was ________ years old, and I would REALLY like to feel better about this."

Maybe she'll be willing to help guide you from there if you want her to and let you know. I resisted guidance for the most part, preferring to direct the disclosure completely. That sense of control can be critical for trauma sufferers as it is often the antithesis of the traumatic situation, so asking her for the exact response and process you want can be helpful. I.E. I don't want you to comment at all, or I want you to ask all the questions, or I want to talk about it 5 minutes and then talk about present day stuff, etc.- whatever makes you feel the most safe. You will not feel perfectly safe, but you can help ease your anxieties that way.

[rothfan6]

I'm 5 months in and just started talking about my past with my T yesterday. I told him from the beginning I had been through abuse but up until now I wasn't ready to get into the details. His approach is we made a list of the worst events and rated them 1-10. And we will start talking about the lowest and working our way up. You could tell your T your ready to start talking about your letter but your not sure how and she might help you start.

[RTerroni]

I think that I might have a lot of hard stuff to talk about at my session on Monday.

[tealBumblebee]

Originally Posted by RTerroni

I think that I might have a lot of hard stuff to talk about at my session on Monday.

Good luck!