I did kind of refuse to leave once many years ago. I was definately acting out, it was manipulative and pretty childish. I didn't do it to intentionally harm or disrepect her and it was based on my own fear of leaving and being back in the world alone as I was very depressed at the time.

I actually love how my therapist handled it, it makes me laugh now but I said I didnt want to leave and sat there. She smiled and when she seen I wasnt movng she said "well you can stay here if you want but I am going to lunch, so you will be here on your own" and walked to the door (this was a building with various rooms for therapists to use.

I gave in pretty quickly after that and she said goodbye and that was it. It was almost like a child throwing a tantrum in a store and the parent walking on, pretending to leave them and then the child gives in and follows the parent because they don't want to be left alone lol. I only realised this afterwards.

That was many years ago and funny my current T has told me I am very good at the time boundary, as I keep a check on it myself. The odd time when she asks if its ok to end the session I say 'no' in a jokey voice but I don't try to outstay my welcome like I did that one time years ago, esp as my current therapist works from home.

I agree with much of what scorpicsis37 has said about therapists needing time between sessions and how staying in her home without her permission is a bigger problem than an office. However I also think the therapist had a responsibility to ensure her clients were out of her home and to maintain her own safety. Really she should not have just walked up the stairs and just assumed a client would leave. It would have been better practice for her to see a client to the door and for her own safety lock the door until the next client arrived.

Maybe you could talk to your therapist about how you feel at the end of a session and how hard it is for you?