I think SO could have worked if they had stuck with more simple issues that realistically could have been dealt with instead of the out there issues that really were beyond the scope of SO to deal with. They needed guests with realistic goals around work, changing careers, something they needed to learn how to do, job training, etc.

Sinead was a good example of someone who needed a chance to come to grips with a change in her life and needed support to face the fact she was finally going to need to deal with the issues of being legally blind so she could continue with going to college.

The was the welfare Mom who's name slipped my mind who got a chance to get help getting off welfare and got an office job. While she didn't keep it and ended up moving and getting a bus drivers job, she did learn how to stay off welfare and they taught her practical skills about budgeting, getting an apartment etc.

I think too many of the goals were unachievable, vague and undefinable. Knowing one's authentic self? It's pretty easy to know when you've found a job. Knowing one's authentic self is a life long journey.