"I almost always walk away from my counseling sessions feeling better, safer, less helpless, less weak. My counselor is nudging me to face things, but at a very slow and comfortable pace for me."

Same reactions here. With Complex PTSD, my VA Center therapist is having me work on skills to cope with symptoms and developing trust with her one-on-one before we start trama processing. I keep the stuff compartmentalized for now. Of course, it leaks out at some of the most inappropriate times - That's what keeps me focused on staying in treatment.

We have been working together weekly since mid October 2007. I have gotten impatient with the non-trigger rules of her group sessions and learned that I will be moving to a more advanced group as I show my ability to cope with day to day living. The peeling the onion approach vs chopping to the middle feels right, but it is frustrating at times.

Grateful for you.