Should I quit therapy?

Going through a bit of a rift with my therapist.

For background, I had multiple hospitalizations and an aborted suicide attempt last year. I deal with depression and more recently anxiety. I have seen my therapist for over a year now.

In our last session, my therapist let me know that because I was making progress we would be going down to biweekly (every other week) sessions. Ok. I am totally fine with this. But in the session when she told me this I had a complete breakdown. I said that it was probably due to other stuff coming up and not necessarily because of her decision to reduce sessions. I am sad that we have less time together as I’m moving in January anyway (out of state). I find myself being really angry with my therapist and not feeling as close to her anymore. I’ve loved our time together but I feel both judged and punished for doing better. I was really starting to feel happy when I did weekly therapy. Now my depression is coming back. I feel like I said or did the wrong thing and therefore caused her to believe I didn’t need therapy as much anymore. I also have a very stressful job and it can be hard to handle especially without a therapist. It rubbed me the wrong way too that she said that I was having this reaction because I get triggered when someone sets a boundary with me. I don’t think that’s quite a fair comment to make and even if it’s true I feel there are more delicate ways to approach that conversation. Overall the past couple sessions have just made me feel horrible about myself and I’m wondering if I should just quit therapy altogether. I don’t feel that my therapy work is done but I feel like maybe my therapist has taken me as far as she can. Any advice would be appreciated.

I can totally relate to starting to feel better and then have people withdraw their support thinking I don't need as much. The truth is, I got better with the support and take it away, I'll likely revert. This happened to me in college. It was probably the most functional I have ever been: job, school, relationship, friendships, counselors, therapist. And then they all started to pull back, sadly, at the same time. And my world slowly collapsed.

I would talk to your T. For one, you need the support and it won't be for long because you're moving, correct? Plus, it doesn't sound like a boundary to me. It sounds like she's using the word "boundary" to tell you to not question her decision. That's not necessarily a boundary.

I see three options: deal with the bi-weekly, challenge her decision, or leave. No one here can tell you what's best. Even I don't know what's best for my own situation! But I would think at least expressing yourself to her might be worth it? Then you won't be wondering "what if?"

I feel like how often you have sessions should be a collaborative decision between the therapist and client. I would probably have the urge to pull away as well if my therapist had done this to me. I'm sorry you're going through this.

That is so hurtful and cold and I would be really upset too. I can’t understand why therapists do things like this. It doesn’t sound like a boundary to me, more like her making decisions and using that power over you instead of working with you. I love how Scarlet put it with the 3 options

This isn't a boundary issue.

Reducing the frequency of sessions should always be primarily the client's decision, made in partnership with the therapist. A T should never unilaterally decide what is best for the client. If you want to keep working with this therapist, then you need to challenge her on it; but it doesn't sounds as though this T has your best interests at heart.