Two of my therapists ended somewhat this way - with warning but no option to continue. In the first situation, it was actually me who was doing the leaving because of graduation and moving on with a career. Staying was not an option - it was a university counseling office. We knew exactly when the therapy would end. We used some of the last month working on a plan for me to find a therapist in my new situation if that was what I wanted to do. The second was a situation where the therapist took a position in another state. I only had a few weeks notice, but it was okay. I was at a place where I knew I could take a break from therapy for a while and decide how to proceed later. His was a career change choice, and while I would have loved for him to stay, it was his decision to make.

I eventually did find another therapist, but it was like a decade later. My journey through therapy (and healing from my abuse background) was a long one spanning several decades (not all in one long-swoop but a bit at a time). I guess what I am saying is to use the time you have with your current therapist - don’t let it bog down in the “ending”; you can make good progress in 5 months and get to a place where you are okay with the goodbye and the transition, but it doesn’t have to be the only focus for 5 months. You can get yourself to a place where the goodbye feels okay. You also don’t have to go straight to another therapist. It’s okay to take a break for awhile and regroup. I found each therapy experience to be quite unique, and I made gains with each therapist that might not have happened with the one before. New eyes and different approaches were a benefit to me in retrospect.

It’s hard to say goodbye, but this is where the adult part has to take the lead and guide the younger parts to adjust to change. Our “kids” don’t always understand or like change, but with the right adult holding their hand, they can trust that they will be safe with the change and be able to move on.