Posted by Dinah on July 2, 2005, at 9:47:55
In reply to I quit therapy today, posted by happyflower on July 1, 2005, at 17:09:25
I quit maybe seven, maybe more, times in the first five years of therapy. My therapist says he learned all he knows about how to treat a terminating client from me.
He usually called and asked to have a "final" session. And he usually called within a day or two.
But I'm sure they vary widely on this.
In general, if you want a return phone call, you have to say so. We would all like them to *know* that of course we want a return phone call. If we're upset enough to call them, of course we want them to call back. But either they're stubborn or dense and they won't. I think they want us to take responsibility for that.
What I would do, and what I have done, is to call him and tell him I would like to talk about everything with him, and could he call to schedule an appointment.
It might be a bit trickier since it's a holiday weekend.
My therapist never held it against me that I quit. Not openly anyway. It took him a few years after I quit quitting to really trust that I wouldn't do it again. In fact, I'm still not sure he doesn't trust me not to do it.
But he always took me back, graciously.
I think most therapists are used to this. It's not all that uncommon. I think therapists that refuse to take a client back are rare.
Now, I did have a pdoc who refused to take me back. But I had only seen him three times when I quit. (Of course, it was the blasted Wellbutrin he had me on that made me agitated enough to quit.)
It'll be ok Happyflower. And obviously you have something you need to talk to him about. It will be good to clear the air.
poster:Dinah
thread:522069
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20050628/msgs/522478.html