I know some therapist are more solution-focused and generally see clients for 10-20 sessions. I wish we could all have our issues solved that quickly!! I've been in therapy for the better part of ten years and don't see myself ending things any time soon. Some of us need long term therapy to stay alive.

I'm fascinated by the therapeutic process so I got all giddy when I saw this thread.

I've had one "termination session", initiated by me, when I didn't even know it was a thing.

The first T I saw...who I am now seeing again...goes away every summer for three or so months. The first time I was seeing him, he referred me to someone else for the summer. The plan was to pick up when he got back in September.

Except I really liked this new T, and decided I wanted to stay with her. But I felt like I owed him an explanation, and an apology, so I asked to meet with him.

I told him I liked her, and wanted to continue with her, and I assume I apologized that I was leaving. I probably didn't tell him how badly I felt.

The only thing I remember from that session was him saying "I really appreciate you telling me in person and not over the phone or by email." For some reason, that had a huge impact on me.

I stayed with the second T for many years...four or five maybe...and we never officially ended things. I don't even remember how it happened. I know I was also doing online therapy (with her knowledge) and then I just kind of stopped going to see her I think. Then I started seeing online T in person (he was across the country, so I had to fly down once a week to see him). His ending was forced - he got sick with cancer and closed his practice, BUT, he still saw me via Skype, AND unbeknownst to me, was in the process of having his license revoked for bedding his clients, so everything kinda happened at once. So, we never formally terminated. He was available to me by Skype but then I started seeing current T again because i needed something more regular. Other T and I were Facebook friends and had a very close friendship but when I found out the real reason he quit practicing I unfriended him and sent him a very passionate letter ending our friendship.

Current T and I have discussed termination, not in the context of it's imminent because we both know I'm in this long term, but in the context of what it will look like when it's time. These conversations arose from my deep fear of abandonment and expressing that fear to him. He said I know probably know long before him that I'm ready to move on. And he said it will be a process that will unfold over several months and it will be mutual. We've talked at great length, actually, about termination, because it is such a huge deal for me (specifically involuntary termination). In this context, it's a very welcoming, reassuring, and comforting (albeit uncomfortable) conversation that I know will make things easier, or more fluid, or more natural when I decide to move on. Based on all this though, I will likely cut back gradually vs cutting the cord, unless something out of our control happens (he could get transferred, or one of us could get sick, etc.)

I didn't use to believe in termination sessions, but I think for some people they can provide significant value and be an integral part of the healing process, even when you think healing has occurred.