Can't really do the poll because I need to check several boxes:
I have not felt abandoned by a therapist.
I have left therapists but don't feel I abandoned them.
I have had therapists quit me (I don't mean abruptly or unprofessionally but due to job changes/moves, etc.) but did not feel abandoned.
I do think abandonment is probably more of a feeling than an actual experience most of the time (edited to add: by that I mean an actual event of abandonment such as literally abandoning an elderly, dependent parent, dependent adults who are unable to care for themselves, a spouse just up and leaving without warning, notice, further contact) -- at least the way it is generally presented here on this forum. Generally, most who talk about feeling abandoned knew it was coming, had therapists who had tried to prepare them for their leaving, had therapists who tried to give them referrals and even helped them try to transition to the new therapist, etc. (Yes, I realize that wasn't the case 100% of the time).
Personally, I think it is somewhat rare (not impossible) for an adult to actually "be" abandoned, but many adults have had prior experiences of actual abandonment in childhood that leave them vulnerable to feeling abandoned and fearing abandonment in situations that feel similarly as adults.
Last edited by Anonymous50005; Apr 08, 2016 at 01:39 PM.
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