Posted by Dinah on May 21, 2008, at 10:17:16
In reply to Struggling so much, posted by myrtledog on May 21, 2008, at 9:54:24
It doesn't need to be about your past. You're losing someone who has been a source of support to you for a long while.
I was reading a Jonathan Kellerman novel the other day and he was writing about the death of a psychologist. His character (also a psychologist) said that losing a therapist was like losing a parent. It felt good seeing that validated right there in a mainstream novel.
I lost my therapist for a while, and thought it could be permanent. I did look into therapy, tried one session with one therapist, then settled in with another therapist who I saw for a few months. Things started looking up with my therapist or I would probably have started looking again as I don't think she was a good long term match for me.
What do you want from therapy right now? Do you feel the need to continue long term therapy? Do you need someone to help you through this loss?
I don't suppose you have much choice. If you wish to continue therapy, you'll have to look around for someone else. Maybe you could make a list of characteristics. Maybe you could get referrals from your therapist and your doctors. I sincerely hope that she'll be open to your settling in with another therapist while still winding things up with her. It seems the least she can do.
I think that yes, you can get through it. There was a time when my therapist was gone from the country for six weeks, and I wasn't at all sure therapy would continue. It hurt like the dickens, but eventually it faded to a dull pain that only flared when I heard from him. We had agreed to keep in touch by email. But his emails were NOT helpful.
I also have gotten through the death of my father. It does get better. No matter how horrible the pain, it does get better with time.
poster:Dinah
thread:830307
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20080508/msgs/830309.html