[annielovesbacon]

As I've posted about on here before my T and I are having our last session next week. She's an intern at my uni and so she's leaving at the end of the semester. I want to continue therapy next semester so she told me she has two women in mind who would be a "good fit" for me (in her words). One is full time staff, so theoretically she would be there the rest of my time in uni. The other is an incoming intern and would only be there for one school year. My T wants me to tell her which I would prefer at our next (last ) session.
I'm inclined to say the full time T because terminating with my current T sucks and I'm going to miss her so much. But at the same time, I wonder if there's something special about my T and that I won't be so attached to another T. And there's a couple small reasons I'm a little bit grateful to have a fresh start next semester. So maybe I would want a fresh start every year.
What do you guys think? Any experience with temporary T's vs. long term T's is much appreciated

[Argonautomobile]

I'd be inclined to go with the full-time, too. Good luck, and sorry you're losing your T.

[ThisWayOut]

I think it's got a lot to do with how you work and how easy it is to trust a new t. I went through 17 "temp" t's (student interns, short-term community clinics, post-docs leaving their practicum, etc), some as short as 2 months. It can be stressful, but it has its benefits. If it's not a good fit, or if you tend to get "distracted" and avoid the things you need to address, it's pretty much guaranteeguarantees you'll have a new chance soon enough...

It was tough to switch so often for me. I needed to build trust and then be able to start working on the stuff behind my symptoms. It took me a long time to trust a new t, so switching ever 4-8 months really just reset any progress. I needed to have a long-term t to address the abuse and foo issues. Now that I have a good long-term t, i'm finally getting around to handling the deeper issues behind my symptoms.

If you think you can deal with your issues easier with a new t every year,then pick the intern. If not, then pick the staff t. Tough maybe ask if you can switch t's if whomever you pick doesn't work out?

[Waterbear]

I would go long term but only because retelling my story and learning to trust again would frustrate me. This is a very personal decision though and I wish you luck with making it.

[Salmon77]

I'd go with the full-time one. That way, if you want to change Ts at the end of the year you can, but you won't have to if you don't want to.

[BonnieJean]

Originally Posted by Salmon77

I'd go with the full-time one. That way, if you want to change Ts at the end of the year you can, but you won't have to if you don't want to.

I agree. It gives you options.

Is it possible to start with the long term therapist, and if it doesn't work out switch? The long term therapist may not have openings if you change your mind, whereas temps will always becoming in going after internships. I don't see a university forcing you to stay with an intern or even permanent therapist if it is not working out.

[Bill3]

Can you meet them and see who fits best with you? To me, fit is considerably more important than the staff vs. intern issue.

[Mike_J]

I have only been in VERY long term therapy, and I'm thankful for that, for me at least it takes time to build trust.

[annielovesbacon]

Originally Posted by Bill3

Can you meet them and see who fits best with you? To me, fit is considerably more important than the staff vs. intern issue.

I could meet the one who would be the long-term T, but the temporary one is not at my university yet so I wouldn't be able to meet her.

[annielovesbacon]

Originally Posted by ThisWayOut

I think it's got a lot to do with how you work and how easy it is to trust a new t. I went through 17 "temp" t's (student interns, short-term community clinics, post-docs leaving their practicum, etc), some as short as 2 months. It can be stressful, but it has its benefits. If it's not a good fit, or if you tend to get "distracted" and avoid the things you need to address, it's pretty much guaranteeguarantees you'll have a new chance soon enough...

It was tough to switch so often for me. I needed to build trust and then be able to start working on the stuff behind my symptoms. It took me a long time to trust a new t, so switching ever 4-8 months really just reset any progress. I needed to have a long-term t to address the abuse and foo issues. Now that I have a good long-term t, i'm finally getting around to handling the deeper issues behind my symptoms.

If you think you can deal with your issues easier with a new t every year,then pick the intern. If not, then pick the staff t. Tough maybe ask if you can switch t's if whomever you pick doesn't work out?

I like your first point, the idea of having the option to switch often appeals to me. But, it does take me a long time to build trust.