[Coco3]

Hi everyone. It's been a long time since I last visited. It's a good sign, I'm doing really well. I recently finished therapy again.

Some of you might remember the first time I ended therapy, almost two years ago. I was struggling so much, because I was so attached to my T and it was very hard to let him go. I grieved about six months. Unfortunately, parts of my life weren't going as they should, so I needed to go back in therapy. That was difficult at first, I hadn't seen my T for almost a year and I couldn't just pick up where we left. It took a while to feel comfortable again with confiding in him. Slowly things got back to normal with him and my life got back on track.

The first time I ripped the bandaid off pretty quickly. I needed it. I remember a lot of you asking if I was really ready to finish therapy. I thought I was, but now I don't think I really was. It's a good thing I went back. The approach was different though, because we mostly addressed current problems to get my life in order. There were fewer appointments with more time in between.

This was the cooling down phase I had never had, but which I really seemed to need after all. I could handle it emotionally this time. The attachment was still there but not quite as much, and it decreased over time. Eventually, I saw my T less and less and I hardly contacted him in between sessions. I knew I was at that point that I could really be without him. Still I was scared to cut the cord for real, but T helped and made it easier for me.

So one day we decided to end it right then and there. This time, I really was ready. I'm very proud of myself to having had the courage to take this step. I'm okay with it. It's also a little scary, but I know I can always call him. I did grieve a little afterwards, I was going through the same emotions as two years ago, only much less and a lot quicker. It's still a little sad I probably won't see my T ever again, but he's in my heart forever.

Thanks for sharing this. I'm thinking about ending my therapy soon and this makes me feel hopeful that it can be done....

[satsuma]

Wow, thanks for sharing! It's so good to hear that you gradually overcame (or outgrew?) your attachment and managed to end therapy in such a good way. It was brave of you to go back after the first time.
I'm in the cutting back stage now - I'm currently going once a month. It's fine so far, but I would like to stay at this phase and never actually end completely. My T is fine with that plan. But we probably both know that *one day* I might change my mind.

[Coco3]

Originally Posted by artemis-within

Thanks for sharing this. I'm thinking about ending my therapy soon and this makes me feel hopeful that it can be done....

I'm sure you can

[Coco3]

Originally Posted by satsuma

Wow, thanks for sharing! It's so good to hear that you gradually overcame (or outgrew?) your attachment and managed to end therapy in such a good way. It was brave of you to go back after the first time.
I'm in the cutting back stage now - I'm currently going once a month. It's fine so far, but I would like to stay at this phase and never actually end completely. My T is fine with that plan. But we probably both know that *one day* I might change my mind.

Take your time, maybe try spacing two months one day. Then three. Until you're ready.