it was hard opening up at first, but being around one person and in a safe quiet, contained area helped me. i really liked my therapist ot begin with so that helped alot.
she asked me alot of questions too and still does, so that also helps. i found that not having eye contact, helped me to open up too, i also hide alot behind pillows and stuff, i need to hide. if you cant talk your therapist write, i did that for while also. wrote in a notebook, lil things at first, short things, then she asked me questions. just think of yourself like thinking out loud :) therapy does help :) i know my message must be confusing but i am a confused person ha. i hope it helps you though. hugggies just breathe k and let things out when you are ready.

I totally agree with living day Kitty. It was hard for me to talk to my Therapist at first too but it gets easier slowly, when I started to trust her a little bit. I also wrote because it was easier for me. I still do. I also find it easier to talk when i don't have eye contact. Have faith in yourself. I have my own answers, my therapist helps me find them.
Go for it.

Does your therapist specialize in SI? B/c if he/she doesn't then they probably don't know how to deal with such issues...you would be best to find a therapist who has dealt with SI in the past...If you don't, you might get a therapist who tells you "just stop" or blames you, or god, I can go on and on...I've had tons of bad experiences....it wasn't until I found a therapist who specialized that I was able to really get the help I needed

It takes time, and you have to build up a level of comfort in order to talk about that sort of thing. I have been seeing my therapist for almost five months and I've only just started talking about my cutting and so on. Every one is different, and you need to do whatever is going to make you feel comfortable talking about this. It has to be on your own time, but it is a good thing that you are at least showing signs of WANTING to talk about your issues. Give it time.

with the si issue i have i have been open about but my eating i still lie which very wrong of me to do!

Well... I started seeing, tony, my therapist to try and deal with the rape and abuse in my past.. I didn't tell him about the cutting he called me on it one day. My first instinct was to out and out lie to his ass.Before I knew what I was doing I told him. Once I told him, I expected him to get pissed at me and refuse to help me.. He didn't he was calm, compassionate, and nice.. He celebrates the littlest victories with me.
Tony is an awesome person, every time we talk, which is often, he always makes me feel safe. Which facilitates my talking to him and makes the words flow more easily.

My advice: Don't be afraid. If you are, it will hold you and keep you in fear. Once you start break the cycle of silence-It WILL get easier!!

It takes a lot of time to fully open up. Probably several months just to start.
It just happens.

As long your therapist is good and knows about SI.
I went to 2 other shrinks and the difference was they made me feel worse after the session and I was not able to open up. I walked out screaming on one lady. sigh.. she was more nuts than me.

When your therapist makes it better, opening up just happens.