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Posted 8/16/2009 6:21 AM (GMT 0)
I have been in therapy for about 3 years already, and I can't even describe to you guys how much I've grown.
I was so filled with anxiety I was scared to leave my own house. Now, I feel I can do anything. I am so much smarter and have successfully dealt with and beaten my horrible anxiety.

As I start a new school year, (away at school) I think I'll be ok now. I just feel like I don't get anything out of counseling anymore--it's the same old stuff I always hear and I have no need for it anymore.

I have a final appointment this week, but I am going to cancel because I have so much left to do and I just don't have time. I don't think that when I come home I am going to go back. Is this ok to do? I know I should talk it over with the therapist first, but if I just don't make another appointment ever again, is that ok? Can patients do that? ( I wasn't seeing an MD, just a regular counselor)
Posted 8/16/2009 6:37 AM (GMT 0)
Taryn,
It is up to you as to whether or not you want a closure session with your current therapist. Based on my own experiences, I would really recommend it (though putting it off a week probably doesn't matter one way or the other). The one time I didn't do it, I felt kinda weird when a month later I started seeing a new therapist & then had to explain how I just quit the previous one. Since then, I've taken it as good practice ending a relationship, but maybe that's just b/c I struggle with just walking away & not looking back whenever I've been unhappy with something. Even when it can't be resolved, I've found it's been a tiny bit helpful to me & often very helpful to the other person (not so much in counseling situations but friendships, dating, co-workers, classmates, etc.) to take a small amount of time to wrap things up. I usually don't book a full hour, maybe 20-30 minutes & sometimes it doesn't take the whole time even at that.

Of course, it's really up to you. If you just don't have time to fit that in to your schedule, or if something else is going on, there's no reason you have to go back for a final session. I've never heard of there being any negative consequences for not having a wrap-up session (unless your counseling was court-mandated, & I don't think it was), it just seems like a healthy, healing thing to do. But either way, we are all here to support you in your choice. Let us know what you decide & how we can support you going forward.

peace,
Frances
Posted 8/16/2009 8:11 AM (GMT 0)
i did with my psychiatrist-as you said, we were just going over old ground. when i noticed this i went and informed him that i was ceasing contact, albeit i did get some excellent pearls of wisdom by doing this. furthermore it is the respectful thing to do, and you may get a last pearl of wisdom too!!! good for you. jamie
Posted 8/16/2009 3:58 PM (GMT 0)
my therapy wasn't court mandated.I would like to have a wrap up session, i think i would feel better. but i just dont have the money or time this week at all. so i think i will just skip it.

in a few months from now, if I choose to go back 1 or 2 more times with the same therapist i have now, do you think that would be weird? And just say this session is gonna be my last one?
Posted 8/16/2009 5:41 PM (GMT 0)
Taryn,
I think you can just be honest with your counselor. Tell her if you don't have the money for a wrap up session & see what she says. If you think you'd maybe like to see her one or two last times in another month or two, tell her that. It seems like even though you've grown out of all the help she can offer that you've really gained a lot from seeing her in the past. From what you've written, she's been pretty consistently caring & understanding, so I'd say just be honest & straightforward with her about what's going on & what you're feeling and see what she says. I'd bet she'll know just how to handle it so you feel really good about ending things with her & moving on to a new chapter of your life.

Let us know how it goes.

peace,
Frances
Posted 8/16/2009 7:57 PM (GMT 0)
I don't think it is wierd or anything if you go back in a few months for some more sessions. It sounds like you have a good relationship with your counselor and that is wonderful.

As Frances said, you still might want to have a wrap up session later just to finalize things and keep the door open in case you need to go back. I had one counselor that I saw, and then ten years later went back to her. She was almost like a friend. In fact my present counselor has become like a friend to me. And that makes me much more comfortable. I use to worry that the objectivity would be lost in the sessions, but it isn't. I guess I have had some pretty good counselors in my time with them.

Best wishes for a wonderful day.

Hugs, Karen
Posted 8/17/2009 9:35 AM (GMT 0)
taryn, agree with karen and frances. all the best. jamie.
Posted 8/17/2009 4:10 PM (GMT 0)
Taryn,

Good Morning.  When I decided to stop therapy I did go to my session and discussed it with my therapist and she agreed it was ok for me to stop the sessions but the door was always open if I felt I needed to come back to her.

I felt good about my decision and was glad she felt I was stong enough to spread my wings.

I hope this works out well for you.

Gentle Hugs

Kitt


 

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