Googled T and didn't like what I found

The therapists I have seen have all been sole practitioners and had sliding fees. The one I see now I know has worked with clients who could not pay or who needed a flexible payment schedule.

When I first switched from seeing my T at the University Center to his private practice and was struggling to find a job, he kept my fee the same as I was paying at the Center--which was about the cost of a couple of Starbuck's. It would have been the easiest thing in the world for him to end the relationship when I was no longer eligible as a student, but he didn't. Although I never paid nothing, he always worked with me. Basically, I think he charged a token payment more for psychological reasons than financial ones.

I am sorry that this happened. Though I understand that a T isn't obligated to work for free and maybe it isn't technically abandonment, it seems really cold to me. I'd hope that if I were in such a position my T would at least be a little flexible and override the office policy (which I'm sure the can). To drop a client so suddenly does seem a bit mean to me. I do know it happens at the practice I go to though, so I guess It's not uncommon. True single practice Ts sound like they are less rigid with the financial policies.

Not giving referrals is illegal, and does count as abandonment.

It's illegal? When my pdoc was leaving the hospital I initially saw him at for private practice, he said I was welcome to go with him, but understood if I couldn't because of the longer drive. So I did say I may need someone new and he quickly said he was sorry, but he wasn't able to refer me to anyone. He did become colder while I was looking for a new doctor but once I decide to go with him to the new office, he warmed up again. I guess other patients didn't follow him though since I received a letter from the hospital apologizing for his "abrupt" departure and offering a pdoc if needed. So would that mean he abandoned those patients? I did think it was odd at the time but I was told he didn't have to help me find a new doctor.

It's illegal for MD's and social workers to abruptly discontinue relationships with clients/patients without referrals, unless they are under threat or duress. You would have gotten the same letter at the other clients if you hadn't followed your Pdoc. In your case the hospital was responsible for the well being of all patients, and is thus obligated to make the referral. They are the legal party responsible. Usually when MDs leave practices they have someone take over the practice, or the hospital will assign the practice to someone new. So, no your Pdoc didn't abandon anybody, because the hospital acted on his behalf, and made a suggestion/referral.

In case you're curious here's what is says in the social worker code of ethics:
Social workers should take reasonable steps to avoid abandoning clients who are still in need of services. Social workers should withdraw services precipitously only under unusual circumstances, giving careful consideration to all factors in the situation and taking care to minimize possible adverse effects. Social workers should assist in making appropriate arrangements for continuation of services when necessary.

I'm sure if Pdoc's have one it would be similar, although they might just be bound by Hippocratic Oath since they are MDs. I'm sure that you can google it if you really care.

Thank you for this info. I too received the letter, since it was sent out a few months after pdoc left. So it sounds like the hospital didn't take care to notify patients and offer continued care until after the fact and they likely received complaints from patients who were left without a psychiatrist for a couple of months. Now that I think of it, any time I've been notified of a doctor leaving practice, even a specialist, it's been before they are gone and with info for the new doctor that will take over the patients.

My ExT does have a private practice so it was his choice to do what he did. I just want to clarify that I did have the funds to pay him. I was just going through a crisis, a really tough time with more bad things about to happen. I shut down completely. I couldnt leave my house, eat, pay bills nothing. I was utterly helpless, hopeless and frozen. T knew this. I even lost my hair in just a couple of months from the stress. Still T terminated me. He could have gotten me through it and then ask for payment. Or just be a kind compassionate human being and help even if it meant going once a week instead of x5. I don't know anything other than what he did.

Two days after her terminated and I was in the midst of a crisis he called. He sounded stressed and he kept telling me to help him help me. Wtf???? When you help someone you do so because you want to.

Like I said in earlier posts I'm devasted and my quality of life has greatly dismissed. I don't know if anyone here can understand me. I simply just cannot dust myself of and go find another T. This all has sunk me to new lows and I simply see no way out.

Maybe he wasn't sure how to help you, and he wanted you to tell him? Any Chance that you pushed him away, or were just to scared to know what to do, or how to explain what you needed?

This is an important point that I wasn't clear on earlier. If you were seeing him 5x a week then the first thing he should have done to help was suggest you try fewer sessions. His terminating you without offering any alternatives is unethical. He shouldn't have needed you to tell him, he's the T. He should have some ideas on how else to help you, even if seeing another t is one of them. Can you tell him this? That one way he can help you is by scheduling fewer sessions? Five times a week us an awful lot. So I guess I don't understand fully why he chose to terminate, unless he feels that he doesn't have the skills to help you in the way you need him to. I don't believe it's unethical to terminate for this reason, but he must tell you this and refer you to someone who would be better suited to treat you.