I think it takes courage to look at yourself, rather than being in denial about who you are and what you need to do to improve your life. I think it also takes courage to walk away from something that is not working for you. These things can both be therapy, or something else. For me therapy has been useful in confronting my childhood abuse and finding ways to move forward in my life to make it more of what I want.

On the good client, I don't think my T would put me in that category, except I show up and I pay. And I have good insurance. But I don't hesitate to tell him when I think he's gotten it wrong, I say what is on my mind without being afraid of his reaction. I also consider his responses and sometimes find a small window into which I can see how to think about something differently in a way that is useful to me, as therapy is a learning experience and an opportunity to try to be more open minded, even if I do not end up changing anything, I find the exercise interesting.

Do you want to post what books you are actually reading?