I have been seeing my T for about 2.5 years, but he really has not been overly helpful to me as far as moving along in my therapy (at this point) and I have considered moving on, based on several different things, one of them being how I have been feeling worse and worse, and also my psychiatrist really thought I should find someone who could help me more and I have a deeper connection with.
My T knew a little while back how stuck I felt and that I had seen two other Ts to see how I felt about them...then I kind of let it go as he was trying to help me get closure with my ex-T who had terminated with me out of nowhere.
Some of those events have been difficult, plus my T has been a bit more careless, like giving my time slot (of two years) to someone else for next week and losing some important papers.
Anyway, I have determined one of the T's my psych recommended to be who I think will be most helpful to me now...I saw him friday and am seeing him again tuesday.
I would like to make sure I also have a "proper" termination with my soon to be ex-T. My ties don't lie so much with HIM exactly, except that he was a very big part of my necessary support system when my ex-T terminated with me (so he was great for awhile, I think...until I started to need more than just support), and he is also just an extremely kind man. I am going to see him Thursday, and I might send him an email before that giving him an overview of my feelings.
But I was curious how many sessions "normal" terminations have taken for people, where they could happen naturally and there was no drama for either the client or the T going on. I haven't experienced such a thing, so I was curious about other's experiences (realizing they could vary greatly). Thank you.

[Nightlight]

The only time I've gone through it, I said that the next session would probably have to be our last because of finances. That was after two years and we had just the one wrap-everything-up session. It was awful and hard for me, but it wouldn't have been easier to drag it out. I think one session is fine, if that's what feels right.

[Perna]

I feel it's kind of like regular work; I gave 2 weeks notice I think it was when I terminated with mine but I didn't see another T while I was doing it.

You might want to discuss it with the soon-to-be-ex, tell him next session you are seeing someone else and would like to terminate with him, would he like to see you again or not? Since you are seeing someone else, he may not feel it useful to see you again after that session.

Originally Posted by Perna

I feel it's kind of like regular work; I gave 2 weeks notice I think it was when I terminated with mine but I didn't see another T while I was doing it.

You might want to discuss it with the soon-to-be-ex, tell him next session you are seeing someone else and would like to terminate with him, would he like to see you again or not? Since you are seeing someone else, he may not feel it useful to see you again after that session.

We already discussed how if I find someone else its important I terminate correctly and he wants to make it as positive for me as possible so I don't have any long-term effects...since the last one slammed the door in my face. And I am HUGE on closure, so I definitely feel like I should have some with him...he WAS there when I needed him and I could trust him more than anyone else.

I imagine between the two of us we will probably come up with a certain number of sessions and see how I feel as we go.

[wotchermuggle]

Mine was a forced termination by a T who was leaving his practice for a time. He gave me 4 weeks. It initially felt too quick, but I wanted it over by the time that last week came. It was hard for it to be drawn out like that, especially when it's not your choice.

I had been in therapy for about 2 1/2 years I think at that point.

[sunrise]

Originally Posted by tractionbeam0610

But I was curious how many sessions "normal" terminations have taken for people, where they could happen naturally and there was no drama for either the client or the T going on. I haven't experienced such a thing, so I was curious about other's experiences (realizing they could vary greatly).

My daughter and I terminated with our family therapist in one session. There was no drama, just a nice closure. We told him at the beginning of the session that it would be our last and then spent the rest of the session reviewing the therapy, what we had gained, how we had grown, what direction we would follow in the future and how what we had learned would help with that, etc. It was nice. He handled it very well, guiding us through the hour to leave with meaning, positive feelings, etc. It was a good experience.

[CantExplain]

Four sessions seems to be the standard where I am.

Originally Posted by CantExplain

Four sessions seems to be the standard where I am.

I think I might recommend that, thank you!