I definitely think you are onto something.

My therapy absolutely progressed in stages. The me stage (pain), the therapist sucks stage (pain), the incorporation stage (confusion!) and the, you guessed it, right back to the me stage.

This latter on is punctuated by insight, an ability to look at my own perceptions and evaluate for myself.

It's also amazingly empowering. My real work in therapy *finally* started when I could step out and ask myself the very questions that you just asked.

I'm excited for you! It's not easy, but things vault forward from here (IMO).

You go girl.