I think asking your T to guide or lead your discussions for a while isn't really giving up control. You are not asking him to allow you to be a passive recipient or to be indoctrinated by his philosophy on life. The two of you have been working together for a long time. There are likely issues you've expressed but haven't really addressed yet. Asking him to take the lead a little bit might be a nice change. Instead of being the issue raiser, you might become the responder, reflector, experiencer. They are still your issues, only you are asking to work at them a different perspective. I like the couple dance analogy. You've both worked as partners selecting the music, the band, and the location. In fact you took the lead in most of the planning.

I've been very much in control of what topics are discussed in therapy, which I think for the most part is good. But I'm sure there are things that I've just either deliberately or unconsciously glossed over that may be important. My T is likely just being patient, interjecting little thought provoking comments here or there, waiting for me to eventually make the connections or get comfortable enough and bring the issue to the table.

In my case, I'm a control freak, I usually don't initiate topics that I haven't already thought a lot about and often times I've prepared and practiced my responses. I think flipping the table and having my T initiate the discussion topics, could be very therapeutic. Obviously this would not be something to do in the beginning of treatment, but you and your T have been working together for a longtime. It wouldn't be like he is creating the issues for you. Also, if he raises something that you don't want to talk about or don't think is a problem, your are likely comfortable enough to say, NEXT.