Posted by Dinah on July 31, 2012, at 8:39:47
In reply to Re: Wanting to terminate, again » Dinah, posted by Tabitha on July 31, 2012, at 1:17:09
> I had the idea to taper off with larger and larger intervals between appointments. Her idea was quite different-- she said termination was usually at least three months of weekly sessions. I can't imaging spending 12 sessions on termination.
I think it's wrong of her to pressure you into this. My therapist was pretty good about letting me leave if I needed to leave. About a year ago, I took a month off of therapy due to some issues I was having with him. I did realize in that month off that while I wasn't as dependent on him as I once was, I still did need therapy in my life.
> Dinah I've noticed the same thing and I do find it telling. After my diagnosis, which is the hardest thing that's hit me in years, I didn't have the urge to call her. I called a friend and then over the weekend called a nurse line to get a short-term ativan Rx. In the subsequent weeks I had the same thinking when I was in distress-- I knew she couldn't do much if anything for me, so it was better to wait it out, distract myself, or take half a xanax. Now I'm barely using the xanax and still having no desire to call her.
>I think you should trust your feelings. Maybe standing up for yourself and your own preferences is the final exam of therapy. Or maybe it's just the midterms. There's no reason to be confrontational about it. Just firm. As I'm sure she probably has taught you to be with others.
Remember the broken record technique. You can tell her that this is what you need at this time, whatever the future holds for therapy, without being angry or confrontational.
I don't think resentment and a desire to leave is the best setting for therapy - or even for a "good" termination. It surprises me that she doesn't understand this. And that she doesn't understand if someone in a relationship is ambivalent, trying to hold onto them with pressure is the best way to guarantee a bad ending.
poster:Dinah
thread:1022225
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20120518/msgs/1022469.html