Therapist's temporary move is permanent

[QUOTE=mindmechanic;6539307]I got a question for you folks.

If your therapist, knock on wood, were to move out-of-state or out-of-country permanently, do you think you would feel a need to know what his or her reasons were?

No - I would not have any such urge. It would not matter to me what the reasons were.

I had one do exactly that. He took a new position in another state. I thought the reason was obvious; he found a position he was interested in and made the decision to move.

I would probably want to know, but not need to. If he didn't tell me I wouldn't push it.

I would ask. If it were a reason such as ‘I want to be closer to my family AND...’ the family part would satisfy me enough.

@ArtleyWilkins: Did the therapist offer to continue working with you through phone or video? What modality was he using to work with you? CBT? Psychodynamic?

No, and I would have never wanted to try to do therapy long distance like that. My therapists have been very eclectic.

That's my thought. I really don't need to know a person's reasons for making a major move. It's their life, and I assume they didn't make the decision lightly or without lots of thought. Whether their reasons are personal or purely professional - almost always it is a combination - it is their decision to make.

People do that. They make decisions to for major change in their lives at times, and no, it isn't always convenient for everyone in their life, but we can't always live our lives for everyone else. We have to pick our priorities. Who can be pulled in too many directions and be okay with that long-term? This therapist tried it, and most likely realized it was time to simplify a bit . . . near her family . . . which is clearly an admirable and completely understandable priority for her.

Putting family first is always understandable.

I am sorry that this is happening to you. She really shouldn't have made promises because the future is always uncertain. You know this is an idea that came to mind: you could try Biofeedback, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation or find a provider that does EMDR. EMDR would help you process on the trauma that you are going through. There is scientific evidence stating that the aforementioned treatments are helpful. And when they work, it is much faster than psychotherapy. These are just some suggestions.