Weekly to bi-weekly sessions!?!

aaaaaaaa - not quite sure what to think of this...
I had to skip last week as my T had a meeting. So i went from seeing her once a week, to missing one... I think I coped fine. Today's session was a bit of a waste of time, as I really felt pretty stable and happy. And I really wasn't sure what to talk about.

Today T asked me how I felt about skipping a week again - this time purposely.

I've agreed to it, but will have an "e-mail session" in the week between - or I know I can pick up the phone and still take up my normal slot.
I told her I was anxious and that I didn't like thinking about not needing therapy anymore. That this weekly hour of letting off steam was good for me.
Maybe I was partially to blame this week - I didn't make notes of issues that cropped up during the week, which I usually mail to her, and I didn't think about what I wanted to talk about. I actually really just felt WELL.

She consoled me that we were talking about termination, and that she'd be honest and open about when she felt I was OK to stop therapy.
She then mentioned the dreaded sentence - We know when we enter therapy that it is not forever, that we will have to say goodbye (I am TERRIBLE at saying goodbye and have never learnt to end things properly)

Wow - so this makes me a bit nervous. Like....really nervous...?!? Am I took addicted to therapy? Or attached to my T?

How long will this tapering off process last?
Will I be OK, or will the wheels fall off?
I don't know... trying not to think about it. Also really wasn't sure what I should say to T - would I, oor would I not be ok to skip a week again?
Is there any point in being in therapy if I go bi-weekly?

Thoughts please - I'm just VERY confused right now. I don't even know what emotion I'm feeling.
I probably should be proud of myself that my T feels I'll be ok, but I'm not really.

Now i think I am "sitting with this feeling" - lol.
Not knowing, uncertainty

Don't panic and take it as slow as you need to.

((((((((((((sugahorse)))))))))))

Can you talk more with T about this...find out why she tings you're ready for bi-weekly?

There have been a couple of times in my therapy when I've tried to reduce my sessions. The first time, I just wasn't ready and I was miserable (about a year ago). T and I gave it a little while, it didn't get better, so we went back to our normal schedule.

More recently, I felt ready to try again, and T agreed. It went okay, but now we're back in trauma work, so I'm seeing him more often.

Therapy is fluid. I think it's okay to try things, see if they work, and go back to how things were, or do something completely different.

If you don't feel ready, it's okay to speak up and tell that to T.

Me too! The idea of ending therapy (again, for the umpteenth time with the umpteenth therapist) is always terrifying. But then again I always knew going into those therapists the rough time that the therapy would be ending. Not this time!

Define "addicted". We're in therapy because we find it useful. We may really like being able to talk to someone and being able to figure things out, because maybe we don't have people who can fulfill that in our "real life". We do sometimes get a "high" feeling from therapy and really look forward to it, but I don't think you're probably addicted to it, just accustomed to it. And you're supposed to feel some sort of attachment to your T (depending on the orientation of the therapy, and many other factors so not everyone feels attached!) ... it's not a bad thing, it means that you've really gotten something from therapy. All in my opinion of course.

Depends. Some people get one session to taper off, some get a couple, some get absolutely no warning at all! Ideally it depends on what you and your T decide on, and how you're coping with stuff.

You will be okay! You've got a bunch of people here who care and are willing to listen. T isn't going to leave you high and dry without a safety net. So I'd bet that if you ever REALLY needed to go back to therapy with her, or anyone else -- you're more than free to do so. T's are supposed to be there to help.

See how you feel, then discuss it with T when you next talk/email/see her again. And yeah, there's a point to therapy if you go bi-weekly, or even less frequently than that! It's testing to see if you've managed to internalize some of the stuff you've figured out in therapy and can cope on your own with the skills you've learned. The bi-weekly is to check in to make sure you don't fall flat on your face, so to speak. And some people can't afford anymore than bi-weekly anyhow. (I've done bi-weekly or even less frequently for a while).

Maybe you feel scared? Confused? Abandoned? Sad? See if you can identify how you feel. Then sit with it.
http://www.psychpage.com/learning/li.../feelings.html

I tapered off for a YEAR with my last T! It's really an individual process, not cut in stone how you do it. Don't worry, sugahorse. You can take it very slowly and change your mind at any time.

Wow - just re-read my post and realised how many spelling mistakes there were! I hate spelling errors...

Well, to clarify, my said she wasn't talking about termination. Big difference I guess. I have come through the weekend fine. I thought about T quite a bit on the weekend, but tried to push those thoughts out of my head. A part of me was also thinking of just cancelling our next T appointment, and not go anymore. It would be a lot easier to stop if I just did it and didn't go back. No formal good bye

But I think I can this. She did say I could write her a mail during the week and she'd reply (She has NEVER really allowed this). Kind of like an online session to get me through 2 weeks.

You know what sparked this whole trail of thought? When I went to see her last Friday, I feeling stable and happy. I didn't really have much to discuss. But just like I can be on top of the world, my world can also come crashing down. And i want a net to catch me in those cases

I've done bi-weekly since day one...I guess I just got used to it quickly. It's hard cutting down.

It's a vote of confidence from her that she thinks you are stong enough to cut down a bit. Termination isn't just around the corner and it is likely that you will be the one to suggest it when it's time.

You can do it Sugahorse. Just take things one day at a time for a bit.

(((everyone))) thanks guys.
I know it's probably something to feel proud about, but I don't want to say bye.
I'm just being ridiculous now

I had to do monthly appts for several months, I thought it would kill me. But you know, it was ok....I got used to it, and now that I am back to weekly I almost resent it. weird.

Maybe you can try biweekly for several weeks, and see if that settles in for you. Sometimes it can be a relief NOT to have to go, at least for me it is.