Once the relationship between therapist and client is established, something sacred happens. There is a safe place to share the things we hide inside ourselves. Some things have been hidden a long time and some a short time, either way, it has been released and it is out. Maybe for the first time another human knows the pain of our past, the shame, guilt and fear that has been haunting you.
Once it is out it can be looked at, felt and heard. Then you can decided what you want to do with it. If you keep the painful past hidden the only thing to do is to keep it hidden and hope that it doesn't leak out. But if you decide it is taking too much energy to keep it hidden and it is eating you up inside, then find a therapist that can provide that safe place for you to let it out. There is a freedom that comes, even though the work has just begun and it will be difficult, there is a sense of not being alone with this any more. Feeling the pain of the past is not so hard when you have someone to share it with.