When I first went for therapy, it seemed I was in the driver's seat. I could decide everything. I wanted change with a specific thing. The therapist seemed hopeful that it was easy to do. But soon it seemed if I changed one thing, I had to change another thing (my feelings, views, thoughts, beliefs, values...), and now, after all these years, the metaphor that comes to my mind is: I went into for an oil change and came out with a rebuilt engine that cost me thousands!

To many that metaphor would make little sense - perhaps I was really messed up beyond words and did require such drastic change - but to a lesser degree, were you taken by surprise by what you were committing to, the kind of major changes that were required? Did you feel like your therapist really explained to you what you were in for, at the start of your journey? If you have felt you've been in charge the whole time and made only the changes you originally wanted, I envy you a little. I kind of look back at my journey and think, I do remember this part of it but this other part...I don't know how that was decided and how I got here!