After 5 years with my T, I still think about her in between sessions and wish I could see her weekly like I used to. However, I don't always feel that painful longing because I have somewhat internalized her so that I feel she's with me all the time. It's like when I went away to college. I missed my Mom but I was grown up enough to have a satisfying experience without her.

It does take time, but I think your longing for your T will diminish. I'm not sure what is helping me the most with the separation, but knowing that T and I have a real relationship is up there on the list. She didn't have to agree to sign her emails "love." She told me she wouldn't do if she didn't mean it. Her accepting my feelings about her helps greatly too. It seems like the closer I feel to my T, and the more I feel she's close to me too, the easier it is to do without her. I feel attached and connected, and it's a secure attachment.

Do you feel like you have a secure attachment to your T? I think you do, and in that case, the painful longings will subside in time.