[ls25]

About a year ago I spent several months working with a therapist who was part of a group practice until she went on maternity leave. When she left, she said she planned to return after her four week maternity leave was over. She asked if I wanted to be referred to a different therapist at the practice or wait and continue with her when she got back. Without hesitation, I said that I wanted to wait for her to return, and she agreed to this arrangement. The break seemed ridiculously short to me, but she said that four weeks' maternity leave was the maximum she was allowed to take under the practice policy. Not surprisingly, at the end of the four weeks, I got a letter in the mail saying my therapist had left the practice and that I was being referred to another therapist within the practice. While I was sad to see my therapist go, I assumed she wanted to spend more time with her new baby and completely empathized with her situation. Normally, I might have just taken the referral, but, coincidentally, my own child had medical issues that required us to move out of state temporarily for treatment. When we returned four months later, I found out that the therapist to whom we had been referred had also left the practice. Although I like the fact that the group practice is very close to where I live, I am concerned about the fact that most of the current practitioners there appear to be interns or to specialize in either trauma or pediatrics (neither of which really applies to my particular situation). I know they tend to have a high turnover there, (I suspect they don't pay enough, and it's pretty obvious they lack some important workplace benefits.) and am hesitant to begin working with another therapist who may not be there very long. Recently, I found out that my old therapist had opened her own private practice. It is a good distance away, but I really liked working with her and would be willing to make the drive. Would it be a violation of client/therapist ethics to request seeing her at her new practice considering that she terminated our therapist/client relationship at her old group practice?

I have have thought about this comparing the situation to that of other professionals and it seems perfectly normal to me to 'follow' a therapist to a new clinic. What it really depends on is the manner in which the previous patient/caregiver relationship was terminated.

When asking this question; "Is it okay to follow my therapist to a new clinic?" try inserting instead the term of another professional...

Is it okay to follow my doctor to a new clinic?

- my dentist
- my veterinarian
- my accountant
- my hair stylist

It IS perfectly okay to do so with these other professionals so I see no reason why it wouldn't be - unless the relationship had broken down - to do so with your therapist.

[benzenering]

Perfectly fine. I followed my pdoc about 5 years ago, don't regret it.

[amandalouise]

Originally Posted by ls25

About a year ago I spent several months working with a therapist who was part of a group practice until she went on maternity leave. When she left, she said she planned to return after her four week maternity leave was over. She asked if I wanted to be referred to a different therapist at the practice or wait and continue with her when she got back. Without hesitation, I said that I wanted to wait for her to return, and she agreed to this arrangement. The break seemed ridiculously short to me, but she said that four weeks' maternity leave was the maximum she was allowed to take under the practice policy. Not surprisingly, at the end of the four weeks, I got a letter in the mail saying my therapist had left the practice and that I was being referred to another therapist within the practice. While I was sad to see my therapist go, I assumed she wanted to spend more time with her new baby and completely empathized with her situation. Normally, I might have just taken the referral, but, coincidentally, my own child had medical issues that required us to move out of state temporarily for treatment. When we returned four months later, I found out that the therapist to whom we had been referred had also left the practice. Although I like the fact that the group practice is very close to where I live, I am concerned about the fact that most of the current practitioners there appear to be interns or to specialize in either trauma or pediatrics (neither of which really applies to my particular situation). I know they tend to have a high turnover there, (I suspect they don't pay enough, and it's pretty obvious they lack some important workplace benefits.) and am hesitant to begin working with another therapist who may not be there very long. Recently, I found out that my old therapist had opened her own private practice. It is a good distance away, but I really liked working with her and would be willing to make the drive. Would it be a violation of client/therapist ethics to request seeing her at her new practice considering that she terminated our therapist/client relationship at her old group practice?

if here in the USA no its not a violation for you to contact her and ask if she has any openings and that you would like to see her again....

that said here in america there is a law that has not yet been fully repealed that I know of... that all americans must have health insurance.

my suggestion is contact your health insurance and make sure this treatment provider and her private practice is listed on your insurance plan. other wise you will have to pay out of your own pocket. part of having a private practice you dont have to accept all insurance plans and can charge more than most community mental health agencies, private practice also doesnt ......always.... provide sliding fee or partial payments.

[Lovethedove]

Absolutely fine as long as she's okay with it!

[Travelinglady]

Hi, Is25, and welcome to Psych Central! I agree with the other folks. Contact her to see if she is willing to work with you some more.

[Taylor27]

It's perfectly ok with it unless she has said no.

[*Laurie*]

Welcome to PC. I'm with everyone else on this thread - it's fine if you see your t at her new practice, as long as she has availability.

[eskielover]

I have done it myself. My awesome psychologist opened her own practice as she git fed up with the group she had worked for for years. Putting requirements on her that interfeared with therapy. Lol they didn't even bother assigning me another psychologist when she left. Followibg her was my ONLY choice I would make.

[den88er]

Years ago when they had this one counselor she was leaving the clinic that she was counseling me in and she asked me if I wanted to go to the new one.

[Blueberrybook]

I don't think it's ridiculous to follow a therapist to a new practice, especially if you clicked with her. I think it is very hard to find a therapist who fits your needs and that you like. I have never had luck with it (have gone thru at least a dozen therapists).

I followed my primary care doctor when she changed practices because she is such a good doctor, and even good PCPs are hard to find. It's not much different than that, I think.