I have a similar experience to SD's. My first therapist and I have remained friendsnow fow 35 years. No awkwardness. No issues. After I graduated from college, we were in touch frequently because of more profession-related networking ( he also ran the career center at the university). We just kind of kept in touch. It wasn't any big decision. It just naturally evolved that way. I used to see him on occasion, but it has been years. Now we just email or talk by phone. Not at all therapy related. We talk family, work stuff, travels, health, whatever. It worked because I never expected us to be buddy buddy, I had no transference issues for him, I never expected him to ever serve as my therapist again. You have to be able to do that I think pretty easily and naturally.