class Obj {
	function __construct(protected &$myself) { }
	function toArray() { $this->myself = ['test' => 'value']; }
};
 
$obj = new Obj($obj);
$values = [
	'obj' => &$obj,
];
$obj->toArray();
print_r($values);
extends Controller? Ну да, ну ясно.