I think that there are two different definitions of abandonment. The first is the way that we feel. We can feel abandoned if a therapist doesn't respond to a message or they go on vacation or move or for whatever reason they are not available for us when we need them. And that feeling is absolutely valid. You feel the way that you feel.

But the other definition is more of an ethical/legal definition. According to the APA:

"Psychologists can ethically discontinue treatment when clients aren’t benefiting from therapy, may be harmed by treatment, no longer need therapy or threaten the therapist, themselves or others.

Your psychologist should explain why the current treatment is no longer appropriate, suggest alternative service providers, address feelings of rejection and resolve any practical issues.

In contrast, abandonment occurs when a psychologist inappropriately ends treatment."

If a therapist feels completely uncomfortable with a client or is completely untrained and unable to help the client, then she should probably terminate with an appropriate referral. She should explain why and she should allow the client the opportunity to express the feelings that he or she will naturally have at being terminated. She doesn't get to avoid that part of it ethically.

I think that @Starry Night absolutely would have a case for client abandonment if she decided to pursue it.

@AnnaBegins From reading some of your other posts, I think your therapist behaved unethically. It seems like more of a boundary issue than client abandonment to me...or maybe I think that abandonment wasn't the worst thing he did. But I can totally understand how you might feel abandoned. That is completely understandable.