Therapist is leaving

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-06-2009
Therapist is leaving
4
Wed, 01-20-2010 - 4:13pm

I just came back from a great vacation.  Today I saw my therapist and he told me that he will be leaving at the end of March and moving to a new job 4 hours away.  He will no longer be in private practice.  He said that between managed care (which doesn't pay him much; the negotiated rate is ridiculous) and fewer clients, he needs to make more money for his family.  I know he has a 1-year-old so it's understandable.  I'm not angry but I feel so sad.  I've been seeing him for 2 and a half years and he has been superb.  I've been in unsuccessful therapy in the past and it was such a relief that I finally found the right therapist.


I know this is something I will get past and it's not as bad a thing as others post about, but it really hurts.  I have been teary all day.  I thought I would have the rest of this year and plenty of time to detach.  He did say that he is positive I will make it on my own, since I am very attuned to my emotions and I have learned a lot of tools.  That doesn't really make me feel better.  My closest friends love me but they don't understand.  I talked to one today who thinks I never needed therapy in the first place, so I can't talk to her about this.  I think the people on this board are the only ones who understand, perhaps also my older brother who has been in long-term therapy.  I don't want another therapist so I will go on from here myself, but I have the option of seeing someone else in his group if I need to.


One thing I have learned is that without an attachment of some kind, therapy doesn't work well, so my sadness is inevitable; that doesn't make me feel better either.


Deb

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-30-2009
Wed, 01-20-2010 - 6:35pm

(((Hug)))

siggy waterfall
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-04-1999
Thu, 01-21-2010 - 5:23am

OH dear Deb, I am so very sorry and I so totally understand.

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-06-2009
Thu, 01-21-2010 - 7:53am

Actually, we had been talking about termination for a while now, I just didn't know it would be so soon.

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-06-2009
Thu, 01-21-2010 - 8:00am

Thank you so much, Josie.