I had a positive relationship with my T and a positive ending despite it being unplanned. That doesn't mean it wasn't painful: but the pain was the natural pain of separating from a relationship I valued, but that's not a bad thing. The most helpful thing my T did was to encourage me--push me--to give voice to the pain and any other thoughts/feelings I had because he didn't want me to be burdened by carrying them forward.

And the need to accept that there may be a grieving process for a time after therapy ends, whether or not contact is continued, because the experience is over. And to make room for the possibility of joy, too: honor the successes, big and small, of flying solo.