Thread: Retiring T
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Old Sep 04, 2022, 07:34 PM
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ECHOES ECHOES is offline
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Member Since: Aug 2007
Location: West of Tampa Bay, East of the Gulf of Mexico
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My longtime T of 15 years is semi-retiring. She will continue at an office in the next county one day a week until she retires, not more than 2 years.

She has been steering me towards ending therapy. I didn't realize she was doing it at first. We had discussions about ending. I had a hard time accepting it but now I am (usually) better about it, even though I am mourning it.
I started seeing her less frequently about a year ago, when she first discussed the idea of retiring, but she didn't have any concrete plans.

For about 6 months, she has changed her mind several times about how long she will be in this office, and when she will be at the other office and the day(s) of the week she will be there. I am willing to see her in the other office even though it's a bit far, since I'm retired, and time is not an issue.

She did not say, let's continue for 'X' number of sessions, then end.
In fact, when I asked what her process was for ending, she said 'process? - most people just stop coming, or we have one session where we review.' Since she's a psychoanalyst/psychodynamic therapist, I was quite surprised and disappointed. The next session she forgot the appointment but drove in and we had less than 1/2 hour. Then the next session, she thought I was there for a half-hour and said I had had a lot of half-sessions. I was bewildered and told her I had [I]never[I] done half sessions. After those 2 sessions, I took a trip home, the 1st in 19 years, and there was a lot to talk about in therapy, but I hesitated about going back. Then I was sick, then I decided not seeing her was passive/aggressive, so I scheduled. That session I told her how I felt about the previous 2 sessions, and she was defensive ("I'm older, I'm human, I make mistakes, I'll make more mistakes") and didn't offer a drop of empathy about how upsetting it was for me to have all the chaos going on. She either wasn't understanding or she was not willing to talk about it. I made another appointment for 3 weeks out. Very unusual for me, I forgot the time before I left the lobby, so she came out and we went back into the room together and she checked her appointment book to clarify.

6 days later I get a text that she didn't remember if I scheduled, but if I hadn't, I might want to consider scheduling a final session.
What?! (my text back to her).
I reminded her that I had scheduled on the 15th. Added that I felt she had not shown empathy for the pain I had been in. I told her I really need to talk with her about this, and before the 15th if she had an appointment.

Next day get a text back from her saying she is sorry I am disappointed in her reaction to me and to please let her know if she can help in any way in the future.
(I originally read that she was dismissing me but now that I write it, I think she is saying to speak up for what I need).

She also said that she feels insulted about the lack of empathy statement when she has been so accommodating about scheduling appointments when I want them.
Texted back, Yes you have been more than accommodating, but I was talking about desiring an empathetic response to my feelings.

I'm sorry this is so long. I'm obviously distraught. I don't want my therapy to end on bad terms. I told her that I had always imagined the ending would be warm and meaningful.

Wish me luck on the 8th.

Any thoughts welcome - you don't have to agree with me
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