Processing painful of childhood experiences isn’t about some homeopathic discharge or cinematic catharsis. It’s about reconsidering those experiences from an adult’s perspective. For example, as you tell the story of your childhood, we may discover that you blame yourself for what happened and believe you were a “bad kid.” Thus, you may be harboring a sense of essential badness that is incredibly painful and wholly unwarranted. Also, in general, we need to talk about your history so we can understand how you may be repeating it. Unless you pause to reflect, you may automatically live your life within in the constraints set by your early environment. A solid map of your past will help us understand the limits of your present course and help you expand into new territory.