As most of you know, my previous T had to unexpectedly quit his practice a year ago due to sudden onset of severe Parkinson's-related dementia. I had already asked him when he was first diagnosed whom he would recommend if he was unable to continue working. The T I saw before him died from a brain tumor, and it was a shock to me because he kept telling me by phone that he was doing well with treatment and expected to be back to work within months. I found out he had passed months after the fact, and it was devastating. He was in private practice, and although I had asked one of the pastors at his church to keep me informed, somehow that didn't happen.

I would like to see it become a part of ethics codes that therapists be required to have "professional wills". It could address things like who would inform clients, and how that would occur, and what would happen to the T's records, etc. Also would be good to have a current list of T's who could take on the clients left behind. I also think it would be good to require that the "will" be kept current, perhaps with a review on an annual basis. Not much good if the information became outdated. I'm sure the various professional organizations would be able to figure out the details regarding confidentiality, etc.

Unfortunately, the very human nature of Ts often prevents them from thinking about their own mortality.